Clearly I'm slipping, or I'd have sooner recalled my mission to require the Beatitudes be posted in all public places (well, if we're going to post the Ten Commandments!). Of course, I wonder what the response would be if we used the Scholar's Version:
Congratulations, you poor!The congratulations are pretty risible, whether you translate makarios as "Congratulations" or "Blessed." And the ouai, rendered here as "Damn you!," is not really a nice reflection on the rich and powerful, no matter how you slice it.
God's domain belongs to you!
Congratulations, you hungry!
You will have a feast.
Congratulations, you who weep now!
You will laugh.
Damn you rich!
You already have your consolation!
Damn you who are well-fed now!
You will know hunger.
Damn you who laugh now!
You will learn to weep and grieve.
I guess we should ask Mr. Obama and even Mr. McCain (who said that this country should treat immigrants in accordance with our "Judaeo-Christian principles") if they want to denounce these words of Jesus of Nazareth.
After all, fair's fair.
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