The Lord's Prayer - Wording - Which one is "wrong"?

[JayCL]

In English in the Lord’s Prayer we say, “Lead us not into temptation”. In Spanish we say “No nos dejes caer en tentación” and in Portuguese we say “não nos deixes cair em tentação”, both of which literally means, “Do not let us fall into temptation”. I don’t speak Greek or Latin, so I cannot refer back to original sources, but leading one into temptation is quite different to letting someone fall into temptation. One is passive, one is active. I know Pope Francis has mentioned something about straightening out the English translation, but then someone brought that up on a Catholic Answers Live call-in show and the guest host was talking about how God does lead us into temptation sometimes. I’m confused. The translations are markedly different. Can anyone try to provide a non-biased explanation?

 

[Vico]

In English in the Lord’s Prayer we say, “Lead us not into temptation”. In Spanish we say “No nos dejes caer en tentación” and in Portuguese we say “não nos deixes cair em tentação”, both of which literally means, “Do not let us fall into temptation”. I don’t speak Greek or Latin, so I cannot refer back to original sources, but leading one into temptation is quite different to letting someone fall into temptation. One is passive, one is active. I know Pope Francis has mentioned something about straightening out the English translation, but then someone brought that up on a Catholic Answers Live call-in show and the guest host was talking about how God does lead us into temptation sometimes. I’m confused. The translations are markedly different. Can anyone try to provide a non-biased explanation?

In Latin Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2848 “Lead us not into temptation” implies a decision of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also… No one can serve two masters."156 "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."157 In this assent to the Holy Spirit the Father gives us strength. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it."158

156 Mt 6:21-24
157 Gal 5:25
158 1 Cor 10:13

 

[BartholomewB]

We had a thread about this last year, when the Pope changed the wording of this phrase in Italian:

Thoughts on Pope Francis changing the “Our Father” Liturgy and Sacraments

Don’t know where to put this. I found on www.francismary.com and article that says Pope Francis was changing the part that’s says “…and lead us not into temptation…” to “…do not let us fall into temptation…” His reasoning? “God himself does not lead anyone into temptation, because He is a kind and omnipotent being and this action would be in contradiction with his nature.” - Pope Francis. I would like to know thoughts on this simply because the prayer is VERY old, to say the least, and is fou…

 

[Pattylt]

Our English translations were done a long time ago and there has been a language shift.

We also say Jesus decended into Hell.

I prefer to keep the old wordings, but teach people what the prayers mean.

What shift in English has changed here? Did “lead us not” used to mean something different? Thanks…

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

LOL you caught me on the spot!

Something I read once—lemme see if I can find it

 

[Pattylt]

No hurries! Thanks!

 

[JayCL]

So it sounds like the Spanish and Portuguese ones that are closer to the original Latin are wrong and the English one is right… right?

 

[Hodos]

Can anyone try to provide a non-biased explanation?

You cannot really compare different language translations. When you translate from an original language into a target language, the nuance of the translation will differ based upon the nuances of the target language so that the meaning is kept as closely as possible to the original intended meaning. It would be appropriate to compare two different English language translations, or two different Spanish translations, or two different Portuguese language translations, but trying to compare one target language translation to another is like comparing apples to oranges if that makes sense.

For English translation, the “Lead us not into temptation” version is probably the most accurate from a formal equivalence standpoint. If you look at the etymology of the Greek verb it literally means bring into or carry into, which in English is probably best translated as lead given the subject of the verb is You (speaking of God) and the object is us. I could not speak to best verbiage for Spanish or Portuguese.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Upon further digging, it’s not the the English meant differently then .

It’s that the nuance for “temptation” in the original Greek was more about being tested beyond ones strength.

So I am going to edit my original post

 

[Genesis315]

Some Bible translations:

DR–“lead us not into temptation”
RSV-CE–“lead us not into temptation”
NABRE–“do not subject us to the final test”

 

[Pattylt]

NABRE–“do not subject us to the final test”

Well, that one sounds quite different in meaning! Many things may be temptations but there is only one final test, right? I agree that it may imply different tests are the final one but it’s more of an end point that the general temptations.
Does it have a footnote explains why that choice of words? Thanks…

 

[Hodos]

One other piece of advice that I would give you is to read the entire sentence, both clauses. This sentence is broken into two clauses that complete one thought. The first clause “Lead us not into temptation” is in contrast to the second clause “but deliver us from evil (or the evil one).” Seeing these two thoughts placed beside one another in opposition should cause you to think about the selection of the word translated as temptation, and whom is ultimately responsible for the actions going on in this petition of the Lord’s prayer.

 

[Genesis315]

Does it have a footnote explains why that choice of words? Thanks…

Not about the translation, but about the test. It definitely gives it a whole other meaning…

Jewish apocalyptic writings speak of a period of severe trial before the end of the age, sometimes called the “messianic woes.” This petition asks that the disciples be spared that final test.

Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB

 

[Genesis315]

Just to add, here is the Haydock commentary’s explanation of “lead us not into temptation”:

God is not the tempter of evil, or author of sin. (James i. 13.) He tempteth no man: we pray that he would not suffer the devil to tempt us above our strength: that he would remove the temptations, or enable us to overcome them, and deliver us from evil, particularly the evil of sin, which is the first, and the greatest, and the true efficient cause of all evils.

 

[Aulef]

Both are correct, however the English version is a literal translation from Latin. In Portuguese (my native language), the term “to lead” is “induzir”, which is derived from the Latin “inducere”.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches why we pray this petition for.

What, then, do we pray for in this Petition ? We pray that the divine assistance may not forsake us, lest having been deceived, or worsted, we should yield to temptation; and that the grace of God may be at hand to succour us when our strength fails, to refresh and invigorate us in our trials. We should, therefore, implore the divine assistance, in general, against all temptations, and especially when assailed by any particular temptation. […] We pray, therefore, that we yield not to evil desires, and be not wearied in enduring temptation; that we deviate not from the way of the Lord; that in adversity, as in prosperity, we preserve equanimity and fortitude; and that God may never deprive us of His protection. Finally, we pray that God may crush Satan beneath our feet.

Notice, in the end, that the prayer in Portuguese and Spanish are correct even if not the literal translation.

Last but not least, we must always remember I Cor 10, 13.

Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

God allow temptations to bother us, but never above our capacity to resist with the help of Grace. And by allowing, it doesn’t mean He Himself tempt us. It is like in the Book of Job. He simply steps aside for tempation to happen, yet He keeps full control of the situation.