Click here for sample verses from the version by James A. Kleist and Thomas J. Lynam.
Title:The Psalms in Rhythmic Prose / Translation based on the authorized Latin version rendered from the original texts by members of the Pontifical Bible Institute / Translated by James A. Kleist S. J., Ph. D. and Thomas J. Lynam S. J.
Date: ⓒ 1954
Publisher: Milwaukee MN (U.S.A.): The Bruce Publishing Company
Contents: Five Books of Psalms • Preface. Psalms contents.
References: Chamberlin: 336-7 Hills: see 2543
Images: Cover, Title page
Comments: Hardcover octavo with DJ, sewn binding. XII & 236 pp; Scripture text verse-wise printed, headings translated, introductions, brief explanations and x–references in footnotes.
Thomas J. Lynam S.J. wrote the preface, dated St Louis University, June 25, 1954; he mentions,
»The Pslams form the very heart of the old Hebrew poetry. But in this version the translators do not attempt to to present them as poetry, in the sense in which that term is used in English literature. We use prose, but we do make a borrowing from poetry, in that the prose has introduced into a stress, a rhythm, There is no intension, therefore, of a metrical rendition; a merely rhythmical rendition is presented. The iambic was chosen since that is the stress most commonly used in English poetry., Hence, it will be found that the movement of the Psalms in this translation is esentially iambic, with occasional and natural substitution of an anapest. – A final revision and polishing of the text had been agreed upon. Father Kleist´s death, however, intercepted the plan. Thus the completion of the work on the manuscript had to be carried out without the benefit of his assistance. – This version of the Psalms is offered as a book for meditative reading and prayer. For this reason, footnotes and other scholarly apparatus have been kept to a very minimum. (…)«
