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D.D., in 1851. The title-page of the book is as

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PUBLISHED BY STANFORD AND SWORDS,
NO. 137 BROADWAY.

1851.

Dr. Murdock says in the Preface: "In this translation the Books of the New Testament are divided into Paragraphs, according to the sense; just as in Campbell's translation of the Four Gospels, and in the Greek Testaments of Bengel, Griesbach, Knapp, and others. The common divisions into Chapters and Verses are noted in the margin, and the Verses are also put in parentheses in the middle of the lines. For the

benefit of those who have some knowledge of the Syriac language, the more important words are frequently placed in the side margin, with references to the corresponding words in the translation. Deviations of the Syriac text from the Greek, and also the susceptibilities of the Syriac words, or phrases, of a different rendering from that in the text, are likewise indicated in the side margin. The foot margin is reserved for occasional comments and critical observations."

The book is an octavo, and the text covers 471 pages. The author tells us he "commenced his translation early in August, 1845, and completed it on the 16th of June, 1846."

Dr. Murdock was born in Westbrook, Conn., Feb. 16, 1776. He was graduated at Yale College in 1797. In 1815 he was made Professor of Ancient Languages in the University of Vermont, and four years later was called to the chair of Sacred Rhetoric and Ecclesiastical History in Andover Theological Seminary. In 1829 he made New Haven his home, and engaged in literary work. He died at Columbus, Miss., in

1856. He translated a number of works from the German, and was well known as a linguistic scholar. His translation of the Peshito New Testament is considered a faithful rendering from the Syriac.

CURIOUS VERSIONS.

THE crank has invaded every department of literature, and has even tried his hand at the Biblical. Men of strong prejudices, narrow- or broad-gauge views, and possessed with a hobby, have sought to color Scripture according to their own opinions, and with little deference to the original sense of the languages of Holy Writ. Some scholars who have been strong in other directions, have exhibited their weakness when dealing with the words of Inspiration. As a result, they have brought upon themselves confusion and ridicule. Franklin was in many ways a great man, but he published his own foolishness when he attempted to improve the meaning of the Bible. Among his “Bagatelles," which Mr. William Temple Franklin

says "were chiefly written by Dr. Franklin for the amusement of his intimate society in London and Paris, and were actually collected in a small portfolio endorsed as above," appears the following letter:

PROPOSED NEW VERSION OF THE BIBLE.

To the Printer of

SIR,It is now more than one hundred and seventy years since the translation of our common English Bible. The language in that time is much changed, and the style, being obsolete, and thence less agreeable, is perhaps one reason why the reading of that excellent book is of late so much neglected. I have therefore thought it would be well to procure a new version, in which, preserving the sense, the turn of phrase and manner of expression should be modern. I do not pretend to have the necessary abilities for such a work myself: I throw out the hint for the consideration of the learned; and only venture to send you a few verses of the first chapter of Job, which may serve as the sample of the kind of version I would recommend.

OLD TEXT.

VERSE 6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

A. B.

NEW VERSION.

VERSE 6. And it being levee day in Heaven, all God's nobility came to court to present themselves before him; and Satan also appeared in the circle as one of the ministry.

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