ersion of
the seventy, called the Septuagint, which was in common use in their
day. No one pretends that the translators who made the Septuagint were
inspired, or that they always succeeded in hitting the exact meaning of
the Hebrew original. Yet, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the
robust good sense of the New Testament writers went straight forward
without stopping to notice or criticise deviations from the Hebrew,
provided they did not affect the use which they wished to make of the
passages quoted.

But the New Testament writers do not always conform their quotations to
the Septuagint. They frequently follow the Hebrew wholly or in part
where the Greek version departs from it. Matthew, in particular, follows
the Hebrew in the Messianic quotations. Chap. 29, No. 19. Yet in these
cases also they cite in the same free manner, abridging sometimes the
Hebrew passage quoted, or giving only its general sense. It may be that
thus the wisdom of God intended to bear testimony against the undue
exaltation of the letter of inspiration above its spirit.

From a list of some two hundred and fifty citations placed side by side
with the original Hebrew passages and the Septuagint version of the same
we select the following as illustrations of the above remarks, each
passage being literally translated. The words in brackets are regarded
by some as not belonging to the true text.

_Hebrew._ The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath
anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek: he hath sent me to bind
up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to the bound; to proclaim a year of acceptance to
the Lord. Isa. 61:1,2.

_Septuagint._ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath
anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of
sight to the blind; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Isa.
61:1, 2.

_New Testament._ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath
anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor, he hath sent me [to heal
the broken-hearted,] to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery
of sight to the blind, to send away free the bruised (perhaps from the
Greek of Isa. 58:6); to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke
4:18, 19.

_Hebrew._ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem: behold thy king s