Religion: Speaking in Divers Manners

The contrast between the New American Bible and the Confraternity translation, the U.S. Roman Catholic standby since 1941, is evident in these familiar New Testament passages:

The "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9-13)

Old: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New: Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

and forgive us the wrong we have done

as we forgive those who wrong us.

Subject us not to the trial

but deliver us from the evil one.

The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

Old: Therefore all that you wish men to do to you, even so do you also to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets. New: Treat others the way you would have them treat you; this sums up the law and the prophets.

Peter's Primacy (Matthew 16:18-19) Old: And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what ever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

New: I for my part declare to you, you are "Rock," and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Saul's Vision (Acts 9:3-7)

Old: And as he went on his journey it came to pass that he drew near Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?" And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou art persecuting. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad." And he, trembling and amazed, said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city and it will be told thee what thou must do." Now the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but seeing no one.

New: As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed about him. He fell to the ground and at the same time heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, sir?" he asked. The voice answered, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do." The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless. They had heard the voice but could see no one.

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