Over the years I have collected three translations of the Holy Bible, but seldom open any of them. Recently, however I was compelled to take a look inside the King James version.
Why? Because of news reports of the commercial, on-line sale of bumper stickers and T-shirts bearing this simple biblical message: "Psalm 109:8."
How does that verse read?
"Let his days be few, and let another take his office."
And at whom is that aimed today? Obviously at Barack Obams, already the target of a despicable, race-related hate campaign with a violent fringe.
Oh, no, you're wrong, weasel-worded apologists will say. You're taking words out of context, they will say. We aren't advocating assassination, only a one-term limit.
Really? Anyone who believes that should continue reading Psalm 109.
The very next words, in verse 9, are: "Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg . . ."
And, finally, in verse 13: "Let his posterity be cut off, and in the generation following let their name be blotted out."
Sounds pretty terminal. It's startling to see what twisted minds can do with a Psalm of David.
With that in mind, I was showing Psalm 109:8 to a fellow I know the other day. He recommended I look for guidance elsewhere in the King James.
He suggested Matthew 25, verses 35 and 36: ". . .for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me."
Which, when you think about it, are inspiring words for all seasons.
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