Investigation and Answer

or to stay by them, is that not enough criticizing of the same? But what shall our men say when they read in my SHORT REPORT original: "KORT BERICHT", page 70 (or 36 after the second printing) that Petrus Dathenus a famous 16th-century Dutch hymn writer here in his rhyme departs from Paul and from all Translators, and that the entire Dutch Church, with the Deputies of the Synod of North Holland follow him in that, against Paul and against all Translators: thus singing.

Of the winds, which are light and fast,
You make your posts and messengers well;
Fire and tempest are the suitable servants
Of your justice all together.
original: "Van den winden, die licht zijn ende snel, / Maakt gy uwe posten en boden wel; / Vyer en tempeelt zyn de dienaars bequame / Uwer geregtigheid alle te fame."

To the same sense has Ambrosius Lobwasser a German humanist and translator of the psalms also rhymed it in High German.

You make the fast winds into angels,
Whom you send out just like fast post-messengers;
Thunder and lightning with their fire-flames
Have with you the office and name of servants.
original: "Zu Engeln machestu die schnellen wind, / Die du ausendst gleich wie postbotten gschwind; / Donner und blitz mit ihren feuerflammen / Haben bey dier der diener ampt und namen."

The French and Walloon reformed churches likewise follow Clement Marot a French Renaissance poet known for his psalm versions, thus singing in unison.

Of the Winds also diligent and light
You make your heralds, posts and messengers:
And lightning and fire, very prompt at your service,
Are the sergeants of your high justice.
original: "Des Vents aussi diligens & legers / Fais tes herauts, postes & messagers: / Et foudre & feu, fort promts à ton service, / Sont les sergens de ta haute justice."

See there the entire Church, as far as the name of Reformed extends, in Germany, France and the Netherlands, equally departing from Paul and from all Translators, with their singing in the Church.

The Latin rhymed Psalm book of Andreas Spethe agrees with the others as well, translating it thus.

Your angels are the light breezes,
And they announce your commands swiftly:
Fierce lightning with the crash of thunder
And flaming heat serves you.
original: "Sunt angeli flatus tui leves, / Et nunciant mandata præpetes: / Fulgur fero cum fulminis fragore / Et flammeo servit tibi calore."

Eobanus Hessus a German Latin poet, for whose Latin Psalm book, printed in the year 1540, I find a letter from Doctor Luther, of August 1, 1537, in which he praises it to the highest, has also translated it thus.

You who make your flames and fire to be ministers,
So that the wind and breeze are your heralds.
original: "Qui flammas ignemque tuos facis esse ministros, / Ut sint præcones ventus & aura tui."