force
of the whole are impaired or destroyed. Again, the translator seems to
have a peculiar antipathy to everything like poetical expressions or the
euphonious arrangement of sentences. He has evidently fallen into the
error of supposing that the most prosaic rendering is necessarily
the most exact; whereas the fact is, that the most poetical form of
expression of which a passage is susceptible is often the most clear,
forcible, and precise. The best method of giving the reader an idea of
the justice of this portion of our criticism of Mr. Sawyer's version is
to quote some passages in contrast with the common version.

COMMON VERSION.

"_If thou wilt_, let us make here three tabernacles."

"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord:
thou knowest that _I love thee_."

"God be _merciful_ to me a sinner."

"Give us this day our _daily_ bread."

"_And therefore_ I cannot come."

"And to whom men have _committed_ much, of him they will ask the more."

"I _give tithes_ of all that I _possess_."

"For which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and
_counteth the cost_?"

"And upon this rock I will build my _church_."

"If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if _he repent_,
forgive him."

"And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors,
saying unto them, _Rejoice with me_, for I have found my sheep which was
lost."

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, _Peace_, be
still."

"As we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen
_deemed that they drew near to some country_."

"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and _broad_ is the
way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat;
because strait is the gate and _narrow_ is the way which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it."

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they _toil not_,
neither do they spin."

SAWYER'S VERSION.

"_If you please_, we will make here three tabernacles."

"When therefore they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord,
you know that _I am a friend to you_."

"God, be _propitious_ to me a sinner."

"Give us to-day our _essential_ bread."

"_On this account_ I cannot come."

"And of him with whom men have