Book of Psalms-TK [Hardcover]

Jewish Publication Society of America (Other Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0827606303 | ISBN-13: 978-0827606302 | Publication Date: October 1997 | Edition: Revised

The psalms have long brought solace and comfort to those who mourn, and helped all of us find the spiritual in everyday life. This translation first appeared in 1973 and has now been revised and corrected using the results of modern study of the languages and cultures of the ancient Near East. This translation transmits the directness, the simplicity and the expressions of piety that are so essential to the sublimity of the Hebrew Bible.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Publication Society of America; Revised edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827606303
• ISBN-13: 978-0827606302
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,559,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A translation I often use, March 10, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Book of Psalms-TK (Hardcover)

I know that there are those who say that this translation is not a very good one, both in terms of accuracy and literary quality. Nonetheless in spite of my knowing Hebrew and knowing certain Tehillim by heart in Hebrew and in English I each day read one Psalm for this book in the morning. English is easier for me than Hebrew, and though it does not give the same sense of sanctity or depth it does give me a kind of basic understanding I sometimes care more for than anything else. I read Tehillim as my most beloved Literature, as the strength of my soul, as a form of daily renewal of connection with and coming closer to God.
This translation helps me and therefore I recommend it.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR THE READER OF THE PSALMS IN ENGLISH ONLY THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WORK, May 23, 2007

By 

Peter Hillebrand (Kyoto Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Psalms-TK (Hardcover)

I first ordered from Amazon The Book of Psalms in the Schottenstein edition ISBN 1-57819-558-6 as I was looking for an edition in English and Hebrew, with a hard cover, with good paper that would give me good service for many future years. I liked the idea of an interlinear text with the English translation of each Hebrew word under each Hebrew character, but unlike the interlinear Greek-English New Testament Nestle/Marshall, published by Bagster 1958, the Schottenstein edition does not have an English translation on the side, or underneath, similar to the King James' translation of the Greek. This edition by Schottenstein is wonderful for someone with a reasonable knowledge of Hebrew who can basically read it so that it can be appreciated both academically and/or interiorize it with spiritual effect. I regret that I have no understanding of Hebrew,and could not find in the mere translation of the characters anything that satisfied my need for the language and poetry of the original on which to support my spiritual needs - <For the conductor,<For<< of joy.<with a cry< to God* <sound the shofar <<hands;<. There is a commentary on the text underneath which is valuable for an understanding of the vocabulary and text. So, this is not a translation for someone who does not have a reasonable knowledge of Hebrew, and not for someone looking for an edition that has the Hebrew characters, Hebrew translation, and a translation which is written in a good English style.

So, I then searched for just a translation of the Hebrew text into English only, in a hard cover, containing only the Psalms, and easy to carry with me at all times. It seemed that there were only two possibilities on Amazon. First, The Book of Psalms, the King James
Version, published by Dover Publications 1993 ISBN 0-486-27541-8 in a soft cover. I thought maybe I would have it bound, but that can present problems in opening the book easily. I ordered it, only to now discover that the paper is of very poor quality which will soon discolour and tear.

At the same time I ordered The Book of Psalms - A New Translation to the Traditional Hebrew Text published by The Jewish Publication Society ISBN 0-8276-0630-3. One Amazon reviewer commented that it is said by some to have mistakes in translation and literary value. I was very disappointed to read this as a friend of mine who is a Rabbi had told me of this translation planned, for what we Christians call, the entire Old Testament; it is said to be planned to take many many years and be a definitive work of Rabbinical scholarship. I have the deepest respect for the veracity of Jewish scholarship, so I have written to my Rabbi friend to ask him his opinion, and the opinion of other Rabbi, of the degree of inaccuracy; style is a personal matter. However, on examining the text and making a comparison with the King James Version I am very pleased to have the Jewish Publication Society edition. In just a short examination of both texts I like the text and style of the JPS edition. If I change my mind later I will correct this review! Apart from which, the volume is a sturdy hard cover edition, easy to carry, somewhat larger than the Dover Publication, and on good paper and with a good font and print setting. I look forward to using this edition very much and very often. On the basis of all I have said above I recommend that anyone who does not read Hebrew fluently, and basically is looking for a Jewish translation of the Psalms for daily practical use in English, to use this JPS edition: Psalm 90 - O Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation, KJV Lord thou has been our dwelling place in all generations, JPS - God restores the lonely to their homes, sets free the imprisoned, safe and sound, while the rebellious must live in a dry land, KJV - God setteth, the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Both are beautiful, but the words of the JPS, for me, leap into clarity and with an ease of comprehension. I shall carry this text with me and read it every day, and when it is in tatters I will simply replace it. For a commentary I will use the Anchor Bible text.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite, January 21, 2009

By 

J. I. Fowler "Theology graduate student" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Psalms-TK (Hardcover)

Forget the naysayers--of the many, many translations of the psalms I have had occasion to work with (in my capacity as a budding theologian) and pray from, this is one of my favorites. The JPS translation does a superb job of rediscovering, or revitalizing, the poetry of the original. The reader is forced to re-encounter the psalms as they were meant to be heard and read: as devotional literature at its most profound, its most primal.

The font, page layout, and paper used result in a crisp text that is easy and even refreshing to read. As you progress through the psalter, you find the translation and layout working together to help you discover cadences almost as rich as the original.

Though I own this version, I read mostly from the pocket-sized edition, and never travel without it. I recommend either edition for their beautiful language and thoughtful presentation.