New Orthodox Psalter with Commentary

[Chief_Sinner]

I know some people had reservations about the Holy Apostles Convent's translation of the New Testament with some saying it was too literal or an overtranslation, but it can be agreed on that the commentary was invaluable. The Convent has released their translation of the Psalter with commentary.

I do not know much about the translation, as I don't have it. However, I have heard that it is the only English translation of the Psalter that translates Psalm 22:1 correctly as "The Lord Shepherds me" instead of "The Lord is my Shepherd".

I can't post the link to the Psalter, but here is the info. It is $35.

FULL-SIZED (6.25" x 9.25") ENGLISH VERSION of the Psalms and Nine Biblical Odes, translated from the Septuagint and the Greek Psalterion authorized by the Church of Greece.

• This edition can be used in the divine offices of the Church. Twenty groups of Psalms, called kathismata, have been arranged and versified according to the Greek Psalterion.
• Although the Septuagint numbering of Psalms is used, yet KJV numbering also appears.
• Six Tables of Usage are furnished, as well as a general listing of the Psalms for daily services as provided in The Great Horologion.
• As with our former publication of THE ORTHODOX NEW TESTAMENT in two volumes, this publication also equips the reader with Patristic Commentary and notes on select verses and inscriptions of the book of Psalms.
• The full-sized version is a sturdy burgundy Smyth-sewn case-bound book, with gold stamping, and a gold double-sided grosgrain ribbon marker.
• Black and red printing of text throughout, on high-opacity acid-free creamy pages, in a very easy-to-read 14-point bold typeface for the Psalms, and a readable and clear 10-point typeface for the Commentary.
• Words of God and others are set in quotation marks.
• Bibliography furnished for Commentary. Illustrated.
• Illustrated.
• 432 pages.
• ISBN: 978-0-944359-35-8.

With so many Psalters available to the English reader, why select this one? The ecclesiastical English is most faithful to the original Greek, and diligently compared with the Psalterion of the Church of Greece, published by Apostolike Diakonia. This brand-new translation echoes the rhythms of the original Greek, which was faithful to the Hebrew idiom. The full-sized version with Commentary, reflecting the Orthodox perspective and interpretation of the spiritual insights of the holy Fathers from the East and West, promises to be an enriched reading experience that resonates with understanding of God’s word through the Psalmist David and others. Now you can read the Psalter and find answers to commonly asked textual and theological queries. This volume can help bring about a deeper relationship with God and reinforced faith in the Christ. This is a one-of-a-kind Psalter which borrows from the whole spectrum of patristic authority for a dependable and valuable resource, not only for Church readings, but also for devotional reading, Bible study, sermon preparation, and teaching. Therefore, come and explore the sacred writings with the champion holy Fathers of Orthodoxy so as to attain a better understanding of the wide range of prophetical, allegorical, mystical, and moralizing explanations of the verses. Even for those who do not know Greek or Hebrew, exegetical material found within this book gives critical analysis of key words, that is not overly technical, for both beginners and scholars alike.

 

[ProScribe]

That's nice but I already have about 3 different prayer books.

 

[ArmyMatt]

thanks for the info!

 

[Chief_Sinner]

That's nice but I already have about 3 different prayer books.

The emphasis on the post is that the Psalter is a study Psalter. It has 150 pages of commentary on particular verses in the Psalms. Its function as being a prayer psalter is perhaps secondary to the fact that it is mainly used for studying.

My main prayer psalter right now is the HTM Psalter. However, possibly in the next month when Jordanville releases its Psalter (or so I heard), that one will replace the HTM.

 

[Michael G]

I have it, but I do not use it much because my most comfortable translation is the Oxford Study Bible RSV with Deutero-canonicals and Apocrypha.

 

[Chief_Sinner]

I have it, but I do not use it much because my most comfortable translation is the Oxford Study Bible RSV with Deutero-canonicals and Apocrypha.

If the ONT is a good judge of their translation practices, it is less than ideal. It is a very literal and sometimes hard to follow translation. But, it does stay faithful to the Greek in many places such as verb tenses. This is mostly useful for studying, but hearing it read out loud, it can be horrendous to the ear.

With the wonderful commentary and the hyper-literal translation, its best place is for study and prayer as secondary.

 

[Michael G]

If the ONT is a good judge of their translation practices, it is less than ideal. It is a very literal and sometimes hard to follow translation. But, it does stay faithful to the Greek in many places such as verb tenses. This is mostly useful for studying, but hearing it read out loud, it can be horrendous to the ear.

With the wonderful commentary and the hyper-literal translation, its best place is for study and prayer as secondary.

The ease that I have in praying from the RSV is why I use it. That and it was highly recommended to me by my spiritual father when I converted.

 

[Chief_Sinner]

That is the main reason why I emphasise that this is mostly a study psalter.

It would most likely be extremely hard to pray from. I use the KJV for my New Testament and HTM (possibly the Jordanville in a month or so) for my Psalter. I don't know of a good LXX in print, but Michael Asser's KJV amended one looks good but isn't in print yet. I use these because they flow good when praying from them. I don't get stuck up on the words as much as I do with the ONT (and probably their psalter).

For study, I use the ONT along with St. Theophylact's Gospel Explanations.

 

[Christos Anesti]

Nice.