Thought I would start a thread about the various errors we feel we have come across while reading various Bible translations.
This is in the New Living Translation (NLT). I have issue with verse 20 and using the word "shame". I feel it takes away from the total point being made - forgiveness, generosity and acts of kindness.
Quote:
Romans 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”[a]
says the Lord.
(20) Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”[b]
(21) Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
|
Quote:
|
[B] Proverbs 25:21-22 "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee."
|
Quote:
|
The Amplified says this: 1. Proverbs 25:22 This is not to be understood as a revengeful act intended to embarrass its victim, but just the opposite. The picture is that of the high priest (Lev. 16:12) who, on the Day of Atonement, took his censer and filled it with "coals of fire" from off the altar of burnt offering, and then put incense on the coals to create a pleasing, sweet-smelling fragrance. The cloud or smoke of the incense covered the mercy seat and was acceptable to God for atonement. Samuel Wesley wrote: "So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head: In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below."
|
I, therefore, feel that the NLT is incorrect in their interpretation. Not only because verse 20 contradicts verses 19 and 21, but the reference in the Amplified lends a good supporting argument.. Another point being, in Bible lands almost everything was carried on the head, i.e., water jars, baskets of various food items, or any other article. In many homes they kept a brazier which they used for simple cooking and for generating warmth. They always planned to keep it burning. If the Brazier should go out, a member of the family would go to a neighbor's house to borrow fire. They would then put the Brazier on their head and start for home. If the neighbor was very generous, she would heap the Brazier full of coals - hence - "Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."
It is not an act to bring shame, IMO, but a beautiful act of forgiveness and of generosity in the face of evil.
Threaded Mode
