Jerome's Latin Psalter based on the Hebrew for BibleWorks7

I just posted a downloadable file of Jerome's Latin Psalter based on the Hebrew that can be compiled in BibleWorks7. Go to this post in the BibleWorks forum for more info and to download.

More Bible software

I realize that there are a bunch of Bible software programs out there that don't deal with original language texts (Ellis, iLumina, QuickVerse, WORDSearch, low end versions of PCStudy Bible or Logos, etc.) or try to provide English work arounds using Strong's for those who don't know Greek or Hebrew. I really don't have time (or money) to look at all such programs, and it appears that anyone reading this blog probably isn't interested in them either. I won't be commenting on them unless they offer some remarkable resource.
Bible Software Review Weblog notes the release of a new version 5 of Biblesoft's PCStudy Bible. Their "Professional Reference Library" edition is geared toward scholars using the original languages. I certainly wish Biblesoft well, and I think competition has been very good in the Bible software field to promote improvements, but I'm having trouble imagining that Biblesoft is going to be able to get much of a foothold in a field dominated by Logos, BibleWorks, and Accordance. Am I wrong?

Online academic research in biblical studies

I've commended David Instone-Brewer's Tyndale Tech Emails in the past, and the January 2007 issue has some helpful guides to doing online academic research. I want to highlight a few things and add some additional information.

• Note the suggestion about customizing search boxes, something that can be done in both IE7 and Firefox. I find that I use this feature regularly.
  
• The Tyndale House Library Catalogue (TynCat) is extremely useful. Searches return hits that are linked to bibliographical data and price comparisons, but you also get further linking to indications whether the publication is available online (using Amazon or Google) and links to reviews. Note that you can also 'browse' nearby books in the library based on your hits. (This is one of the things I like to do in a physical library.)
• He commends the Index Theologicus at Tübingen, and I concur, but biblical scholars should especially note the Scriptural Reference page. It a great help for finding articles on a specific verse.
• The SBL Forum has featured a couple articles on using Google Books and other online tools for scholars. I've previously commented on this latter article and provided a couple extra suggestions.
• TynCat noted above does a nice job of comparing prices for books, but if you use Firefox, I really recommend the "Book Burro" addin. If you are looking for a book (at Amazon, Abebooks, Alibris, etc...), it 'senses' the book and provides a transparent little bar at the top like this:

If you click on the bar, it opens up and looks like this:Not only does it do comparative pricing (user-customizable list of places to look), but you will note that I have also customized the addin to my location, and it searches WorldCat libraries and let's me know which libraries and how far away they are that have the book.

Textual Criticism Resource

It's posted on the BibleWorks Forum, but there is an incredibly thorough and useful Excel spreadsheet anyone can use and download for free that deals with the ancient manuscripts of the NT. There are sheets for Papyri, Uncials, Minuscules, Lectionaries, and Fathers with info on there identification number, contents, date, text type, name, provenance, comments, etc.
Thanks to pasquale and friends for sharing this great resource! (2007.07.21 update: This post in the thread is an updated version with the macro labels in English.)

Biblical fonts and the iPhone

Over on This Lamp, there is a posting on how Greek but not Hebrew fonts are available for viewing biblical and other texts on the iPhone.

BibleTech08

Hosted by Logos but not a Logos software demonstration, BibleTech08 will:

explore the intersection of Bible study and technology. This two-day conference is designed for publishers, programmers, webmasters, educators, bloggers and anyone interested in using technology to improve Bible study. BibleTech 2008 is an opportunity to meet others who share your interests and hear from industry leaders.

January 25/6 in Seattle, WA. I'll have to see if I can make it out there...

Biblical maps and mapping resources?

I've done a bunch of blogging on biblical maps and mapping that are available in digital format on the web or as part of software packages. I'm now in the process of trying to compose a more thorough, organized, and formal review for the SBL Forum. If you check my link, you will see that I've been cruising the web for sites/software, and I've checked the nice collections of links at such sites as Mark Goodacre's NT Gateway Listing of Maps and Bible Maps and Pictures at preceptaustin.org.
If I have missed something good, or if anyone has a particular site for biblical maps/mapping or preference for a kind of maps or specialized use of maps, please let me know, and I will try to incorporate it in my review. Thanks!

Biblical Studies Carnival XIX

This site was linked at the latest Biblical Studies Carnival posted at Biblische Ausbildung. These carnivals are always worth checking to see what is going on in the blogosphere in biblical studies.

More on fonts

In my previous post, I referred to the SBL Greek and Hebrew fonts. From that link you can download the SBLHebrew, but the Greek is still in beta and under discussion on the SBL Fonts Forum. (The Greek font has been taken down for 'repairs,' but John Hudson says a new beta should be available sometime in July 2007.)
To get the new Microsoft fonts if you have not upgraded to Vista or Office 2007 requires a bit of work. I got Calibri, Cambria, Candara, Consolas, Constantina, Corbel, and Segoe UI by downloading a trial version of Microsoft Office 2007. (This new version is certainly improved in many ways from Office 2003, but I'm also finding some issues working with Greek/Hebrew and doing footnotes.)
In the meantime, as I had mentioned in another post, I am sticking with Cardo for all my Greek/Hebrew.

New Microsoft Fonts

Like AKMAdam who regularly blogs about it, I'm fascinated with fonts. With Microsoft's release of Vista and the new Office 2007 suite, they have provided ten new fonts. (For their appearance and some evaluations, check them out HERE and additionally HERE.) I personally find them to be quite attractive in general with a 'fresh' look to them while not becoming simply 'casual.' Interestingly, Calibri, a sans serif font, is the new Microsoft default font replacing Times New Roman. Calibri is nice, but I think I like Candara better. Still, I prefer a serif font for reading. Cambria and Constantia are the two new serif fonts, and I think I will find occasion to use both of them. BTW, Constantia was designed by John Hudson, the same person who is designing the SBL Greek and Hebrew fonts. Of the new Microsoft fonts, none of them carry Hebrew characters. Only Segoe UI (a Unicode font) contains a full set of Greek characters. For your viewing pleasure, I've included here a graphic displaying the still-in-beta SBL Greek, SBL Hebrew, and the new Microsoft Segoe UI. (click to enlarge)

Catching up...

Been away and simply catching up on some good sites:

• Tyndale Tech Emails: David Instone-Brewer at Tyndale House has been providing an extremely helpful collection of online resources. I've previously referred to the font kit he provides on the site, but it is worthwhile to peruse his well-organized and annotated list of resources related to Bibles, fonts, translation, writing, etc. Be sure to check out the latest one on "Lexicons for Biblical Studies." In connection with this, he has provided an incredibly useful and handy lookup system for Hebrew/Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and Akkadian at his 2LetterLookup site. Using data from the online lexicons, the user first chooses the language, then the first two letters of the word (this approach actually works quite well), and the entries appear in a linked pane. For Hebrew/Aramaic, you get links to Gesenius and Jastrow, for Greek to the Liddell&Scoot (from Persesus via Resurgence Greek Project = Re:Greek = the zhubert.com site now redesignated), for Latin to an abbreviated lexicon at Notre Dame, for Syriac to a PDF page from Payne Smith, for Coptic to PDFs of the Crum dictionary, and more.
• Rubén Gómez on his Bible Software Review site has posted a very thorough and positive review of Logos3 Gold.
• This is not new information, but if you have not yet checked it out, Roy E. Ciampa has been accumulating resources and has a great collection of links on his Resources for New Testament Exegesis page. There are some fine bibliography lists, and I especially like his Resources for Textual Criticism. On that page, you will want to consider downloading his Reference Charts for Textual Criticism PDF.
• Another great resource I just discovered is Vernon K. Robbins' Dictionary of Socio-Rhetorical Terms.