1. Review of 'The Quotable Atheist'

Comment #22174 by GeoffreyDinosaurs on February 13, 2007 at 6:21 am

This is an email I sent to Rook from the RRS on Huberman's weird translations, check it out:

Have you seen the book,"The Quotable Atheist: Ammunition for Nonbelievers, Political Junkies, Gadflies, and Those Generally Hell-Bound" by Jack Huberman? I was at my local booksellers the other day and saw this on the shelf. When I opened it, I noticed this:

King David (c. 1011-971 B.C.E.), Second king of the united kingdom of Israel.
"For I have done your bidding, I have slain mine enemies in your name. I have put women and children to death in your honor, I have caused great pain among them, for your glory." --Psalms, 5:4-10

I didn't buy the book, but noted the chapter and verse and, when I got home, I looked up the verse in my Standard Revised Bible. There, this passage reads:

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight:
thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing:
the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy:
and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies;
make thy way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre;
they flatter with their tongue.


10 Destroy thou them, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions;
for they have rebelled against thee.

How did Huberman get this translation? If he is really off, why did this pass mustard with the editors of this book? I feel like these sorts of fuck-ups are real bad press for us ...

Any thoughts from you guys?