...
A good example is Ecclesiastes 1:4.
NIV: Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains for ever.
NWT: A generation is going and a generation is coming; but the earth is
standing even to time indefinite.
An important question here is: Who is going to decide whether the writer
implies that the earth may stand a long time and then be destroyed, or
whether the meaning is that the earth will continue to stand without an end?
The translator or the reader? The NIV has decided the case, and the readers
are deprived the the freedom of interpretation. The NWT translators have left
the matter open, and the readers can have a part in the translation process.
...
I am still waiting for any evidence that "eternal" is not a reasonably
good translation of `olam, i.e.meaning that there will be no end to the
time period, at least subjectively for the experiencer such that
"lifelong" is sometimes more appropriate. Can anyone give me any
counter-examples?
Solomon gave one example in his last post. Another example is "the everlasting priesthood" (ASV; JPS) of Ex 40:15, which was not "everlasting". ...
But NWT's method has the same problem, for, as you have effectively admitted, "soul" is not always a reasonable good translation of NEPE$.
... Please keep in mind that my premise for claiming that "everlasting" is not a reasonable good translation of )WLM, is that this does not fit *all* occurrences of the word. In your model, where you feel free to interpret the text in behalf of the readers, and use the rendering "for ever" when you believe that the reference is for ever, there is no problem with this word.
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