The Bible Story

The Bible Story

In this volume are gathered up selections of the most inspiring literature which the Bible contains. The Psalms are given nearly entire, but with fresh titles and a new typographical arrangement. The book of Job is presented in a way to interest the modern reader. The material found in the "Prophets," usually entirely unintelligible to young readers, is given in a form which should prove interesting and inspiring. In addition to the sublime poetry of the Old Testament inspiring passages from the New Testament not elsewhere used are given here. These are not in poetic form, but the sublimity of thought and lofty style of utterance entitle them to a place beside the splendid poetry of the Old Testament. The contents of this volume ought to become perfectly familiar to older children by frequent reading and study. We hope that it may be found extremely useful also for devotional reading; for family and public devotions and for private reading. Here, in one volume, are those portions of the Holy Scriptures which, in a peculiar sense, grew out of a deep spiritual feeling. To these portions particularly, the best minds of the ages have turned for spiritual uplift, for inspiration and consolation. The editors can hope for no higher reward than that this book should contribute to the growth of personal spiritual life. The first poetry was made to be sung. It almost made itself. It had two qualities--the expression of strong feeling of some kind, and some sort of rhythm that could be put into song. Ever since the days when all men were savages, and told simple stories and sang rude songs as they gathered about the campfires, those two things have marked the difference between poetry and prose. Poetry must have feeling and rhythm. In most languages the rhythm is one of sound. The words flow along so easily that they run themselves into a sort of tune. That is what is called measure. Measure cannot be easily translated from one language to another. Even if it could, it would not always be so beautiful as it is in the language in which it is first written. So it comes about that we do not often try to get the rhythm of the words in the poetry of the Bible. Indeed, scholars have puzzled themselves greatly over just what sort of rhythm the words of Hebrew poetry have. The Hebrews who wrote the poetry did not think it worth while to say anything about that, and later men forgot that there was any rhythm at all; so now it has to be all discovered over again. But Hebrew poetry has also another kind of rhythm beside that of words--a kind which English poetry does not have. It is the rhythm of thought. In Hebrew poetry a thought is expressed in the first line, {12} then either repeated with some slight change, its opposite expressed, or something added to it, in the second. The following are illustrations:-- ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 32736
Author: Hall, Newton Marshall
Release Date: Jun 7, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Contributor (Author): Wood, Irving Francis, 1861-1934