Psalms

Psalms get interpreted differently as they change social context. The largest difference between the Psalms in the Bay book and the Psalms in Alter’s book is the tone. The Bay Psalm book is much more rhythmic and forcing in some senses it seems like the authors pay more attention to tone than trying to replicate an accurate version of the Psalms. This makes sense because the puritans were attempting to apply the text to their circumstances. 

For example in passage 6 the Bay psalm book uses the word annoynted instead of Alter’s appointed. Biblically anointed has more of the connotation of bringing in God and making God personal. The ancient ritual of anointing involved rubbing oil on ones-self to bring god in. This line makes it seem like as an individual the Protestants wanted to welcome in the King who in their case is God instead of simply appointing a king as it states in Alter’s version. I think it is important that Alter didn’t capitalize the word king while the Bay book did. This makes me think that Alter is talking about a king while the Bay book is talking about God.

Psalm 31: I thought it was interesting that the Bay of Psalms book it said, “god give me the liberty to stand”. In Alter’s version it simply says, “you let me stand”. The Protestants added on the whole concept of liberty. I think this is due to the shift in social context. Protestants were in a situation where they now had liberties to worship. In Britain Protestants wanted the liberty to practice their beliefs. This is why they left and now in the Bay book this line serves to thank God for that liberty.

I think it is interesting to look at how the Protestants adapted the book of Psalms to fit their religion and culture. For the Protestants this book must have played a large role in society because they did not have many books and it was one of the first books they printed. It makes sense that the Bay book would be more strongly worded than Alter’s book because the bay book was used for worship, while Alter’s book is used for scholarly study.