The Bay Psalm Book's version of Psalm 23 reflects a more passive version of the Lord. The verbs come at the end of the sentences. For example, it opens by saying, "The Lord to mee a shepheard is," immediately making the Lord's role more passive. This is continued later in the Psalm, where it recites, "they rod, and staffe, my comfort are." Overall, the language simply does not convey an active image of the Lord.

In contrast, the King James version of Psalm 23 portrays a very active Lord. It opens with "The Lord is my shepherd," making it clear that the Lord is actively watching over his flocks of followers. Furthermore, the Lord's rod and staff are not merely a comfort. Instead, the King James...

In fact, these two versions help highlight the importance of appropriate translation, not just of meaning, but of tone, in Biblical work. As a result, the version found in the King James Bible portrays an image of a more active and protective Lord than the version…