The New World Translation and Matthew 5:3

Eighty years ago Thomas Linton Leishman wrote "Our Ageless Bible" where he had this to say about one of my favorite Bibles, Goodspeed's An American Translation:

"Another modern rendering which likewise merits close attention and study is characterized as "The Bible: An American Translation." This version appeared in 1931, the Old Testament being translated by a group of scholars under the editorship of Dr. J. M. P. Smith, while Professor Edgar J. Goodspeed is responsible for the New Testament. Evaluating this American translation, Prof. Beatrice Brooks referred to it as "great literature" while she also noted its faithfulness to the original texts (see Journal of Bible and Religion, January-March, 1937). Among its many interesting contributions, one of the most thought provoking is that which offers the rendering, 'Blessed are those who feel their spiritual need,' in place of the familiar 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' of the King James Version (Matt. 5:3)."

Interestingly, the New World Translation has a similar rendering: "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need."*

Perhaps the NWT should be classed alongside Smith & Goodspeed's Bible as "great literature" as well.


*The _An Understandable Version_ and the _New Simplified Bible_ have similar readings.