REFRESH... Thursday, 2nd July 2009 - I am black and beautiful...translations.
Today in the post, thanks to a generous friend, I received a new Bible; my sixth translation, this one in contemporary English (CEV). I have only skimmed through the pages, however, my first thought was directed towards a comparison of their translation of a key text in Song of Songs, chapter 1 verses 5-6, with my favourite rendition in the New Revised Standard Version.
NRSV… I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!
CEV…my skin is dark and beautiful, like a tent in the desert or like Solomon's curtains. 6 Don't stare at me just because the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me work in the vineyard, and so I neglected my complexion. Don't let the other shepherds think badly of me.
Whilst the CEV omits the "buts" and "yets" of other translations (see below), it still retains the implied negativity of the following verse which is a standard in most Bibles. I have yet to read The Inclusive Bible but I looked to my commentaries for clarity. Sadly True to Our Native Land: An African American Commentary refers only to the New Testament and The Africa Bible Commentary merely refers to the author's self confident and yet apologetic stance. The Queer Bible Commentary raises issues of identity as a problematic discourse; a marginality that simultaneously enthralls and repulses. Her "othering" is projected as "a dark-skinned territorial foreigner...as a well-tanned worker in a field...a lingering apparition of the black goddess of antiquity...a social outsider...a taboo person... at once fascinating and forbidden." Here I feel an "object" within a dominant European world view. The Original African Heritage Study Bible: King James Version is restorative in our affirmation above the text - I Am Black and Beautiful - with the following annotation.
I Am Black and Beautiful - This Black Shulamite woman (possibly the Queen of Sheba) states her blackness and that she is beautiful. The KJV among others here reflects an adversative "but comely" despite the fact that the original Greek text uses a standard conjunction "and." This is one of the few places in the Bible where color is an issue instead of culture. When she makes this statement it is in a pro-active response based on standards reflecting noble human and personhood values. This could be called the biblical "I'm Black and I'm proud" statement.
This mistranslation or "typo" depending on one's viewpoint has taken two centuries to correct; from the reign of King James and his version dated 1611 to the contemporary NRSV of the twentieth century. His version is noted for its lack of scholarship owing to the number of mistranslations and its political foundations as an ideological tool of the Realm. Nevertheless it is still occupies a reverential position within many of our traditional churches.
OTHER TRANSLATIONS:
New International Version …Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected.
King James Version 5... I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
The Message Bible 5-6 …I am weathered but still elegant, oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem. Weather-darkened like Kedar desert tents, time-softened like Solomon's Temple hangings. Don't look down on me because I'm dark, darkened by the sun's harsh rays. My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields. They made me care for the face of the earth, but I had no time to care for my own face.
Amplified Version…I am so black; but [you are] lovely and pleasant [the ladies assured her]. O you daughters of Jerusalem, [I am as dark] as the tents of [the Bedouin tribe] Kedar, like the [beautiful] curtains of Solomon! 6 [Please] do not look at me, [she said, for] I am swarthy. [I have worked out] in the sun and it has left its mark upon me. My stepbrothers were angry with me, and they made me keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard [my complexion] I have not kept.