The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand" (Deut. 6:21)—In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word here literally rendered "hand" was constantly used as symbolizing "strength or power"; hence the rendering by Moffatt: "The Eternal brought us out of Egypt by sheer strength."

"He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous" (Prov. 2:7)—Various translations have been offered for the Hebrew word which is translated "sound wisdom," including "abiding success, efficient wisdom, advancement" (see Brown, Driver, and Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 444), since the jews employed it sometimes to denote sound wisdom itself, and sometimes the practical effects of such wisdom. Thus Dr. Delitzsch suggests: "He preserves for the upright promotion" (Commentary on Proverbs, Vol. I, p. 75). Smith prefers: "He has help in store for the upright."

"The highway of the upright is to depart from evil" (Prov. 16:17)—The Hebrew word "sur," rendered "depart," means literally "turn aside from" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 693); while the noun translated "evil" can also mean "misery, injury, calamity" (ibid., p. 948). Consequently Moffatt suggests: "The path of the upright avoids misfortune." Another rendering would be: "The highway of the upright leads away from evil."

"He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul" (Prov. 16:17)—The Hebrew term "nephesh" is employed in a number of different senses, which include "life, spirit, mind," and "breath, person, self," as well as "soul." (See Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary, p. 220.) Thus Smith suggests: "He who pays heed to his way safeguards his life;" and Moffatt: "He safeguards life who watches where he goes."

"Neither be ye of doubtful mind" (Luke 12:29)—The margin of our Authorized Version suggests the rendering: "Live not in careful suspense;" while Weymouth (fifth edition) has: "Do not waver between hope and fear." Other suggested renderings include: "You must not be anxious about it" (Goodspeed); "Do not . . . be worried" (Moffatt); and "Do not be agitated by cares" (Riverside New Testament).

"Him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27)—The word which is here literally rendered "sealed" is not infrequently used metaphorically in the New Testment to mean "confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 609). Moffatt thus suggests: "The Father, God, has certified him;" and Weymouth: "On Him the Father, God, has set His seal;" while Goodspeed has: "You must not work for the food that perishes, but for that which lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has authorized him to do so."

"The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven" (John 6:33)—A translation which is more strictly in accordance with the idiom of the Greek would be: "The bread of god is that which cometh down from heaven." In consequence we find that Moffatt has: "The bread of God is what comes down from heaven;" and Goodspeed: "It is God's bread that comes down out of heaven."

"What have I to do with thee?" (I Kings 17:18)—The idiomatic Hebrew phrase thus rendered in our Common Version is a very condensed one and means literally: "What (is there) for me and for thee?" Thus various slightly varying translations are possible. Moffatt suggests: "What have you to do with my life?" Smith's rendering, however, is practically that of our Common Version: "What have I to do with you?"

"A certain nobleman" (John 4:46)—The Greek term "basilikos," which is here rendered "nobleman," is connected with the word "basileus"—"king." Consequently we find that Weymouth renders: "a certain official of the King's court;" the margin of the Revised Version: "a King's officer"; while Goodspeed has: "one of the king's officials;" and Moffatt: "a royal official."

"Thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation" (Ps. 91:9)—The words "which is," italicized in our Common Version, do not, of course, appear in the original, and many scholars feel that in the earliest manuscripts there was found a word all but identical in form with that rendered "my refuge," only meaning "your refuge." When written or printed, the two words are almost indistinguishable. Hence Smith renders: "You have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your habitation;" while Moffatt has: "You have sheltered beside the Eternal, and made the Most High God your home."

"How amiable are thy tabernacles" (Ps. 84:1)—In modern English, we employ the word "amiable" chiefly with reference to a person's disposition or conduct (cf. Webster's Dictionary), but in this verse it has its earlier sense of "lovely or lovable." Thus Smith translates: "How lovely is thy dwelling-place;" and Moffatt: "How dear thy dwelling is;" while we also find: "How lovely are thy habitations" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 1015).

"A day in thy courts is better than a thousand" (Ps. 84:10)—This represents a literal rendering of the original, but Moffatt makes its implication even more clear by rendering: "Better a single day within thy courts than a thousand days outside;" while Smith has: "Better is one day in thy coursts than a thousand elsewhere."

"The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom" (11 Tim. 4:18)—Weymouth's rendering of this passage is an illuminating one: "The Lord will deliver me from every malicious attack and will bring me safe to His heavenly Kingdom." Moffatt suggests: "The Lord will rescue me from every assault of evil, he will bring me safe to his own realm in heaven."