Creator(s) and Maker(s)

在＂異端辨端＂（天道書樓有限公司）第175頁如此說：在這裏，大抵我們也可以明白到為何傳道書12:1 所說＂造你的主＂(Thy Makers)是復數的，並以賽亞書54:5＂造你的是你的丈夫＂中的＂造你的＂(Creators) 是複數（以外在的位格而言），但丈夫(Thy husband) 卻是單數（以內在的本的本質而言）．

此說法是否合乎聖經一貫的道理，讓我們來看看不同英文聖經的翻譯：

1. Christian Community Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Be mindful of your Creator when you are young,
Isa 54:5: For your Maker is to marry you.

2. The Amplified Bible
Ecl 12:1 Remember (earnestly) also your Creator (that you are not your own, but His property now) in the days of your youth.
Isa 54:5 For your Maker is your Husband ---

3. New International Reader's Version
Ecl :12:1 : Remember the One who created you.
Isa : 54:5 : I made you, I am your husband.

4. Today's New International Version
Ecl : 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa : 54:5 : For your Maker is your husband ----

5. New International Version
Ecl : 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa : 54 :5 : For your Maker is your husband.

6. James Moffat Translation
Ecl 12:1 : But remember your Creator in the flower in your age,
Isa 54:5 : for your husband is your Maker,

7. 1599 Geneva Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For he that made thee, is thine husband,

8. Douay-Rheims – The Holy Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54: 5 : For he that made thee shall rule over thee.

9. The New American Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For he who has become your husband is your Maker;

10. The New Jerusalem Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator while you are still young,
Isa 54:5 For your Creator is your husband.

11. The Jerusalem Bible
Ecl 12:1 : And remember your creator in the days of your youth.
Isa 54:5 : For now your creator will be your husband.

12. Comtempory English Version
Ecl 12:1 : keep your Creator in mind while you are young!
Isa 54:5 : He is your Creator and husband.

13 New Century Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator while you are young,
Isa 54:5 : The God who made you is like your husband.

14. Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ecl 12:1 : So remember your Creator in the days of your youth;
Isa 54:5 : For your husband is your Maker ---

15. Authorized (King James) Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thine husband.

16. New King James Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your Maker is your husband.

17. The 21st Century King James Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thine husband ---

18. Third Millennium Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thine husband ---

19. Complete Jewish Bible
Ecl 12:1 : So remember your creator while you are young,
Isa 54:5 : For your husband is your Maker.

20. The Modern Language Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Be mindful or your Creator in the days of you youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your true husband is your Maker,

21. Easy-to-Read Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator while you are young,
Isa 54:5 : Your real husband is the one who made you.

22. Holy Bible From Ancient Text (From The Aramaic of the Peshitta)
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For it is the Lord shall do thee to you;

23. The Orthodox Study Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For it is the Lord who is your Maker,

24. A New English Translation of the Septuagint
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : because the Lord is the one who makes you.

25. American Standard Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thy husband.

26. Today's English Version (Good News Translation)
Ecl 12:1 : So remember your Creator while you are still young,
Isa 54:5 : Your Creator will be like a husband to you,

27. English Standard Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your Maker is your husband,

28. New Revised Standard Version
Ecl 12:1: Remember your creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54.5 For your maker is your husband.

29. New Life Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also your Maker while you are young,
Isa 54:5 : Your Maker is your husband.

30. The NET Bible
Ecl 12:1 : So remember your Creator in the day of your youth ---
Isa 54:5 : For your husband is the one who made you---

31.The Living Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Don't let the exitement in being young cause you to forget about your Creator.
Isa 54:5 : for your Creator will be your husband.

32. New Living Translation
Ecl 12:1 : Don't let the exitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator.
Isa 54:5 : for your Creator will be your husband.

33. New American Standard Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your husband is your Maker,

34. Updated New American Standard Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your husband is your Maker.

35. Revised Standard Version
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For your Maker is your husband.

36. The Message
Ecl 12:1 : Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young,
Isa 54:5 : For your Maker is your bridegroom,

37. Daily Devotional Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator while you are young.
Isa 54:5 :This is because the God who made you is like your husband.

38.God's Word
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator when you are young,
Isa 54:5 : Your husband is your Maker.

39. Darby Translation
Ecl 12:1 : And remember thy creator (creator is plural) in the day or thy youth.
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thy husband:

40. Young's Literal Translation
Ecl 12:1 : Remember also thy Creators in the days of thy youth,
Isa 54:5 : For thy Maker is thy Husband.

41. Rotherham's Emphasized Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Yet remember thy Creator (plural of excellenes), in the days of thy vigour ---
Isa 54:5 : For thy husband is thy Maker.

42. Revised English Bible with the Apocrypha
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.
Isa 54:5 : for your husband is your Maker,

43. The New English Bible
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.
Isa 54:5 : for your husband is your Maker,

44. A literal Translation of the Bible (The Interlinear Bible)
Ecl 12:1 : Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Isa 54:5 : For you Maker is your husband;

45. The Clear Word
Ecl 12:1 : Remember your Creator while you're still young........
Isa 54:5 : Your Maker is still your husband;

我們先談傳12:1之Creator(s). 在福音書局所能買到的不同英文版本聖經, 幾乎全部都已列上了. 在45版本中, 只有Young's Literal Translation 翻譯為Creators, 其餘的全都譯為Creator. 在Darby Translation 和 The Companion Bible (KJV) 只註明原文是Creators. The Companion Bible 註明如下:
Creator, Plural of Majesty, the great Creator, or a reference to the trinity.

在 Apostolic Bible Polygot 所給予的編號為2936. 其文如下 : And(2532) remember(3403) the one(3588) creating(2936) you(1473). 2936的意義為 To build, make, create.

Young's Literal Translation 譯為Creators 並沒錯. 但為何其他那麼多版本都譯為Creator 呢? 甚至有些版本註明原文是復數但卻譯為單數! 理由很簡單, 如譯為Creators, 給人的印像是很多Creator. 這又掉下 “Elohiym 是否暗指三位一體＂一文之Elohiym的假設中.

至於賽54:5, 全部版本, 包括Young's Literal Translation, 都譯為Maker. 我參考了幾本聖經辭典, 全部都表示此字乃動詞to make. 至於為何會譯為單數名詞Maker, 則無從知曉. 無論如何, Makers的意思與上述之Creators的情況一樣, 即多個Maker, 亦陷入Elohiym復數之假設中.