The Kox Translation: Three Passages

At times, Catholics have been woefully behind the times in their English Bible offerings. But occasionally Catholics have been leaps and bounds ahead of the times - so far ahead that their progressive efforts have been lost. Such, I believe, is the Knox Translation. A British translation of the Vulgate published in the 1940's, it would be decades before Protestants got the courage to be so daring with a translation of the Scriptures. Now, the old Knox translation is available online with mild updating of the Language (No more thees and thous). Here is a sample of the Knox translation from one of my favorite passages, Philippians 2.

Yours is to be the same mind which Christ Jesus showed.His nature is, from the first, divine, and yet he did not see, in the rank of Godhead, a prize to be coveted; he dispossessed himself, and took the nature of a slave, fashioned in the likeness of men, and presenting himself to us in human form; and then he lowered his own dignity, accepted an obedience which brought him to death, death on a cross. That is why God has raised him to such a height, given him that name which is greater than any other name;so that everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth must bend the knee before the name of Jesus, and every tongue must confess Jesus Christ as the Lord,dwelling in the glory of God the Father.

And here is a section from one of my "go to" passages when I am doing a quick assessment of a new-to-me translation. Psalm 1.

BLESSED is the man who does not guide his steps by ill counsel,  or turn aside where sinners walk, or, where scornful souls gather, sit down to rest; the man whose heart is set on the law of the Lord, on that law, day and night, his thoughts still dwell. He stands firm as a tree planted by running water, ready to yield its fruit when the season comes, not a leaf faded; all that he does will prosper. Not such, not such the wicked; the wicked are like chaff the wind sweeps away.

 And finally, a passage that shows the quirkier side of the Knox Translation. After reading this I wondered if George Lucas read this passage before creating Yoda.

Cannot you be content with trying the patience of men? Must you try my God's patience too? Sign you ask none, but sign the Lord will give you. Maid shall be with child, and shall bear a son, that shall be called Emmanuel. On butter and honey shall be his thriving, till he is of age to know good from harm; already, before he can tell this from that, king they shall have none, the two kingdoms that are your rivals.

How fun is that?