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The Wisdom Books The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, And Ecclesiastes: A Translation With Commentajob, Proverbs, And Ecclesiastes: A Translation With Com (2011)

by Robert Alter(Favorite Author)

4.33 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0393340538 (ISBN13: 9780393340532)

languge

English

genre

Poetry

publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

review 1: Some, no doubt, wonder why anyone would pick up a Bible commentary. Does one have to be a religious nut? “The Wisdom Books” would be a great introduction to anyone--even those with more of a secular bent. Reading this book is similar to reading a familar poet with the student guide book immediately below each line. In this case, the poet lived thousands of years ago and we are not always certain what he meant. Alter is quick to point out where modern translators are unsure and explain why lines have been translated as we read them here and in the familar King James Version. I will agree with another reviewer that Proverbs became tedious. However, both Job and Qohelet play off the conventions of Proverbs. I can understand why these three books were bundled toget... moreher. Ecclesiastes is as daring as I remember it to be and I found that Alter’s explication of the internal structure brought even more to my understanding. Hebrew is such a rich language in its ability to make visual and aural puns. It makes me want to pull out my language primer again.
review 2: Alter's translation of Job is beautiful. He captures the poetry that was intended in the Hebrew. The story of Job, however, remains among the most difficult of the Bible for me. After reading Job, I turned to Walter Brueggerman's chapters on Job in his "Old Testament Theology." His work is fascinating reading. Nothing emerges as extraordinary in the translation of Proverbs. However, Alter's translation of Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most challenging I've read. Alter produces an atmosphere of negativity that outstrips any other translation I've read. less

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