Scripture has a way of becoming overly familiar to us. We hear or read the same words so often, they can lose their transformative power. When this happens to me, I reach for a different translation of the particular passage. Sometimes another translation will provide a fresh new insight into words I have begun to take for granted.

Today I’d like to present eight familiar verses from scripture, all from the gospel of Matthew. For each verse, I will provide four different translations: 1) the King James version, 2) the New American Bible (the one Catholics hear at Mass), 3) The Message a translation by Eugene Peterson, and 4) Prayers of the Cosmos by Neil Douglas-Klotz, a translation based on the Aramaic words of Jesus. I suggest you read these words slowly and see what affect the various translations have on you:

1. Mt. 5:48: “Be ye therefore perfect” (King James)

“So be perfect” (New American)

“In a word, grow up!” (Peterson)

“”Be you all-embracing” (Douglas-Klotz)

2. Mt. 6:9: “our Father which art in heaven” (King James)

“Our Father in heaven” (New American)

“Our Father in heaven” (Peterson)

“O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light” (Douglas-Klotz)

3. Mt. 6:11: “Give us this day our daily bread” (King James)

” Give us today our daily bread” (New American)

“Keep us alive with three square meals” (Peterson)

“Grant what we need each day in bread and insight” (Douglas-Klotz)

4. Mt. 6:12: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (King James)

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (New American)

“Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others” (Peterson)

“Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold on others’ guilt” (Douglas-Klotz)

5. Mt. 6:13: “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (King James)

“and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one”” (New American)

“Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil” (Peterson)

“Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back (from our true purpose)” (Douglas-Klotz)

6. Mt. 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God”  (King James)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (New American)

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule” (Peterson)

“Blessed are those who are refined in breath; they shall find their ruling principles and ideals guided by God’s light” (Douglas-Klotz)

7. “Mt. 5:4: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (King James)

“Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (New American)

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you” (Peterson)

“Blessed are those in emotional turmoil; they shall be united inside by love” (Douglas-Klotz)

8. Mt. 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (King James)

“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the land” (New American)

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought” (Peterson)

“Healthy are those who have softened what is rigid within; they shall receive physical vigor and strength from the universe” (Douglas-Klotz)

So, what do you think? Are there any translations that surprised you? that you like? that you don’t like?

Do you think looking at various translations of scripture can be helpful for our prayer and spiritual life? (by the way, it’s easy to do. Just google the scripture reference and various translations appear!)

I invite you to let me (and my readers!)  know what you think about this! Thank you!

Let me close with these challenging words: Remember, YOU may be the only translation of the Bible others may see!