Czesław miłosz’s idea of biblical translations: reconstruction

Czesław Miłosz, known mainly as a poet, translator of poetry and lecturer in Polish literature, was also a Bible translator from original languages. He wanted to create not only a new translation of the Bible, but also a new language: of translation and of Polish poetry. He saw himself as a restorer of Polish culture. In his work this intention was deeply intertwined with an aspiration towards a spiritual renewal of the contemporary man. As a Bible translator, Miłosz wanted to obtain a text as close to its original as possible and, at the same time, poetically successful and beautiful. But his critics claimed that he had missed the goal. Some reproached Miłosz for creating a version much “heavier” in reception, even unnatural; others maintained that the translator had not understood the essence of the sacred text. This article reconstructs Miłosz’s ideas of biblical translation and of poetry. It also points out their similarities and concludes that Miłosz translated the Bible to integrate it with his own poetic vision rather than to produce a text for liturgy.
 

Czesław miłosz’s idea of biblical translations: reconstruction

Czesław Miłosz, known mainly as a poet, translator of poetry and lecturer in Polish literature, was also a Bible translator from original languages. He wanted to create not only a new translation of the Bible, but also a new language: of translation and of Polish poetry. He saw himself as a restorer of Polish culture. In his work this intention was deeply intertwined with an aspiration towards a spiritual renewal of the contemporary man. As a Bible translator, Miłosz wanted to obtain a text as close to its original as possible and, at the same time, poetically successful and beautiful. But his critics claimed that he had missed the goal. Some reproached Miłosz for creating a version much “heavier” in reception, even unnatural; others maintained that the translator had not understood the essence of the sacred text. This article reconstructs Miłosz’s ideas of biblical translation and of poetry. It also points out their similarities and concludes that Miłosz translated the Bible to integrate it with his own poetic vision rather than to produce a text for liturgy.