Comparison of Psalms, Sermons, and Parables

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        Comparison of Psalms, Sermons, and Parables

        Europe centered on Christianity and the Bible for centuries, and the holy book shaped the lives in all living during those times. Although the Bible nearly governed the people of Europe, most of them were never able to have access to it. The Bible was originally only available in Latin, the language of the Church, but during the Reformation of the 1500’s, the Bible was translated into the vernacular languages for the common people to read. The King James Bible was the official English translation, and it was created by the consent of King James himself. Throughout the generations, the King James Bible has become an important part of life for English-speakers, often lending hundreds of phrases to the English language. The passages in the Bible all convey themes of faith, and three examples of such passages are the psalms, sermons, and parables. Although they all appear within the Bible, there are significant differences between all three of these genres, including a distinct form for each, a unique use of literary techniques, and different ways of communicating deep messages about life.  

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        While sermons and parables are both spoken passages that praise God, psalms are poetic religious songs that are sung to praise God. To keep the audience interested, psalms sometimes feature vivid metaphors, or comparison of unlike things. For example, in Psalm 23, phrase 4, a metaphor is used to strengthen the image of the psalm: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. (p. 277)” The speaker is not actually walking through a valley of death; it symbolizes the person going through hard and evil times, but he or she is ...

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