Dying to know about the Luther Bible

Exactly why we should all be here more than ever now that it is August, I have no idea. However, I am not actually out of reach of the internet, and neither, so it seems, are my various cobloggers! This question was put to us by Matthew in the last day or so,

Can someone describe to me Martin Luthers (original) translation of the Bible in terms of "dynamic and literal"? I have often heard it said that Luthers Bible was frequently free (if his letter on Translating is any indication!) and occasionally literal (when he found a passage to be useful in determining doctrine, etc.)

How much truth is there to this? If the Luther Bible (original) could be compared to one of our modern English translations, what would it be most similar to? ESV, NEB/REB, NIV, GW, CEV???

I'm just "literally" dying to know!!! (Oh yah, feelin' the idiomatic burn).

Since I have been so gallantly rescued from the Antarctic, I must in return offer Matthew some succour. No, Matthew, you do not need to live in suspense. (But I googled the issue and came up with one of my own posts. Great help that is!)

So here goes. This is Romans 3:21-26, first in Greek, then in the Luther Bible, third in a free and not very accurate back translation provided by yours truly (having many inexactitudes, I am not qualifed to do this) and finally the ESV. From this, I put it to our readers, which English translation does Luther's most closely resemble? I would add this caveat, Luther's style varies throughout the Bible.

21 νυνι δε χωρις νομου δικαιοσυνη θεου πεφανερωται μαρτυρουμενη υπο του νομου και των προφητων

Nun aber ist ohne Zutun des Gesetzes die Gerechtigkeit, die vor Gott gilt, offenbart und bezeugt durch das Gesetz und die Propheten. Luther

Now however without effort of the law, the righteousness which applies before God, is revealed and testified by the law and the prophets Babelfish and I

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it ESV

22 δικαιοσυνη δε θεου δια πιστεως ιησου χριστου εις παντας τους πιστευοντας ου γαρ εστιν διαστολη

Ich sage aber von solcher Gerechtigkeit vor Gott, die da kommt durch den Glauben an Jesum Christum zu allen und auf alle, die da glauben. Luther

I say however of such righteousness before God, which there comes by the faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all, which believe it Babelfish and I

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ESV

23 παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου

Denn es ist hier kein Unterschied: sie sind allzumal Sünder und mangeln des Ruhmes, den sie bei Gott haben sollten, Luther

Because it is here no difference: they are all sinners and lack the fame, which they should have with God, Babelfish and I

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ESV

24 δικαιουμενοι δωρεαν τη αυτου χαριτι δια της απολυτρωσεως της εν χριστω ιησου

und werden ohne Verdienst gerecht aus seiner Gnade durch die Erlösung, so durch Jesum Christum geschehen ist, Luther

and will without service be justified by his grace through the release, this through Jesus Christ was done Babelfish and I

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ESV

25 ον προεθετο ο θεος ιλαστηριον δια {VAR2: [της] } πιστεως εν τω αυτου αιματι εις ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου δια την παρεσιν των προγεγονοτων αμαρτηματων

welchen Gott hat vorgestellt zu einem Gnadenstuhl durch den Glauben in seinem Blut, damit er die Gerechtigkeit, die vor ihm gilt, darbiete in dem, daß er Sünde vergibt, welche bisher geblieben war unter göttlicher Geduld; Luther

which God has presented forth as a grace seat by the faith in his blood, the righteousness which applies before it, in that he forgives sins which had so far remained under godly patience; Babelfish and I

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ESV

26 εν τη ανοχη του θεου προς την ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου εν τω νυν καιρω εις το ειναι αυτον δικαιον και δικαιουντα τον εκ πιστεως ιησου

auf daß er zu diesen Zeiten darböte die Gerechtigkeit, die vor ihm gilt; auf daß er allein gerecht sei und gerecht mache den, der da ist des Glaubens an Jesum. Luther

in that it would show at these times the righteousness, which applies before him; so that he alone may be just and make just, the one in whom is faith in Jesus. Babelfish and I

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. ESV

The most obvious difference between a German translation and an English translation is that the Latinized vocabulary of 'redemption' and 'propitiation' simply does not exist in German. It cannot. Another difference is that there is no attempt by Luther to translate one Greek word by one German word. And for Luther God has no sons, except for one, but only children.

Reader,

Which English translation do you think this most closely resembles?

Here are a ccouple of articles first from the German Embassy and from the International Bible Society.

Note: Corrections to the German back translation will be gratefully accepted.