Issues 96, 97 - poetry

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Poetry is one of the ways that people use the words and sounds of their language to make their speech and writing more beautiful and to express strong emotion. Through poetry, people can communicate deeper emotion than they can through simple non-poetic forms. Poetry gives more weight and elegance to statements of truth, such as proverbs, and is also easier to remember than ordinary speech.
The Bible uses poetry for songs, teaching, and prophecy. Almost all of the books of the Old Testament have poetry in them and many of the books are completely poetry.
#### Some things commonly found in poetry
* Many figures of speech (see [Figures of Speech](../figs-intro/01.md))
@ -41,43 +43,49 @@ Elegant or fancy speech is similar to poetry in that it uses beautiful language,
### Examples from the Bible
The Bible uses poetry for songs, teaching, and prophecy. Almost all of the books of the Old Testament have poetry in them and many of the books are completely poetry.
**Poetry often has figures of speech.**
>Keep your servant also from arrogant sins;
>let them not rule over me. (Psalm 19:13 ULB)
The example above has a figure of speech called personification. It speaks of sins as if they were a person who could rule over someone. (see [Personification](../figs-personification/01.md))
>... for you saw my affliction;
>you knew the distress of my soul. (Psalm 31:7 ULB)
The example of parallelism above has two lines that mean the same thing. (see [Parallelism](../figs-parallelism/01.md))
>Oh, give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
>Oh, give thanks to the God of gods, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
>Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-3 ULB)
The example above repeats the phrases "give thanks" and "his covenant faithfulness endures forever."
>Love is patient and kind;
>love does not envy or boast;
>it is not arrogant or rude. (1 Corinthians 13:4 ULB)
The example above has lines of similar length.
* The example above has a figure of speech called personification. It speaks of sins as if they were a person who could rule over someone. (see [Personification](../figs-personification/01.md))
>They have sharpened their tongues like swords;
>they have aimed their arrows, bitter words,
>so that they may shoot from secret places at someone who is innocent;
>suddenly they shoot at him and fear nothing. (Psalms 64:3 ULB)
In the example above David uses dramatic imagery to show how dangerous his enemies' words are; their tongues are like swords and their words are like arrows.
* In the example above David uses metaphor to show how dangerous his enemies' words are; their tongues are like swords and their words are like arrows.
**Hebrew poetry often has parallel lines.**
>... for you saw my affliction;
>you knew the distress of my soul. (Psalm 31:7 ULB)
* The example of parallelism above has two lines that mean the same thing. (see [Parallelism](../figs-parallelism/01.md))
**Sometimes poetry has repeated phrases.**
>Oh, give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
>Oh, give thanks to the God of gods, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.
>Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-3 ULB)
* The example above repeats the phrases "give thanks" and "his covenant faithfulness endures forever."
**Sometimes poetry has lines of similar length.**
>Love is patient and kind;
>love does not envy or boast;
>it is not arrogant or rude. (1 Corinthians 13:4 ULB)
**Sometimes poetry uses grammar differently.**
>My soul also is very troubled.
><u>But you, Yahweh</u>—how long will this continue?
><u>Return, Yahweh! rescue me</u>.
>Save me because of your covenant faithfulness! (Psalm 6:3-4 ULB)
The example above uses grammar differently. The author interrupts his request for Yahweh to return and rescue him by asking how long his trouble will continue. Interrupting his request helps to show how distressed the author feels.
* In the example above, the author interrupts his request for Yahweh to return and rescue him by asking how long his trouble will continue. Interrupting his request helps to show how distressed the author feels.
### Translation Strategies
@ -100,7 +108,8 @@ If you use ordinary speech it may be more clear.
The following are examples of how people might translate Psalm 1:1, 2.
1. Translate the poetry using one of your styles of poetry. (The style in this example uses rhythm and rhyming words. It is adapted from the Scottish Psalter of 1650, which is in the public domain.)
1. Translate the poetry using one of your styles of poetry.
* The style in this example uses rhythm and rhyming words. It is adapted from the Scottish Psalter of 1650, which is in the public domain.
* That man has perfect blessedness,<br/>
who does not walk a<u>stray</u><br/>
in counsel of ungodly men<br/>