Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

130 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
3. That this committee consist of seven men and/or women, at l
the current Psalm Translation Committee, at least two under the age of forty-five,
and at least one from the 1968-73 Psalter Revision Committee.
4. That this committee prepare regular progress reports to Synod and develop
other appropriate publicity and support.
Some Considerations In Support of This Action:
1. Good features of The Book of Psalms For Singing should be preserved:
(1) All of every Psalm carefully translated,
(2) Psalm and verse numbers corresponding to those in our Bibles,
(3) music designed to encourage congregational singing.
2. Careful translation and insightful accompanying notes for seventy or more
Psalms by the International Psalm Translation Committee over the past twelve years
offers much encouragement for revision. Line by line comparison of these
translations with versions in our current Psalter
(1) indicates that much of what we have needs little or no change beyond
modernization of language
(2) identifies Psalms and Psalm portions calling for improved versions.
3. Continuing modernization of our Psalm-singing language seems timely. In
1973 the prevailing modern English Bible was NASB, which uses "you" for
humanity but only "Thee-Thy-Thine-Thou" for Deity. The now-prevailing NIV
follows Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, as well as AV and the 1635 Scottish Psalms
In Metre, which make no such distinction. Most of us who lead in prayer now
address God as "You." Consistency would suggest that "From everlasting You are
God," as well as "Who with love and mercy crowns you," can be appropriate for
singing.
4. Revision might easily correct twenty or more mis-translations of the names of
God found in our current Psalter.
5. Endeavoring to capture the force and feeling of the Hebrew may help to
reduce the wordiness found in many of our present versions, especially in longer
Psalms.
6. Words and music which the 1968-73 Committee considered superior and
introduced as alternates
(1) may by now have made "old" versions unnecessary or
(2) may have had insufficient use to justify inclusion in a revision.
7. The 1968-73 Committee's decision to assign a different tune for each
selection has resulted in further avoidance of thirty or more Psalms or Psalm
portions which are rarely called for, because their tunes are unfamiliar, even to
some of our precentors. Judicious repetition of some good tunes (a common
practice in hymnals and previous Psalters) might encourage singing of such
selections on occasions (possibly rare) when their use is appropriate.
8. Careful revision could give attention to the selection and/or arrangement of
tunes to avoid notes too high or too low for average voices.