One would like to think that the longer people have walked this earth the more sophisticated and even mature they have become. Experience alone should account for increased social refinement. But this is not the opinion of the publishers of the New American Bible whose 2011 edition replaces the word “booty” with “spoils of war.” Apparently, they believe that the average reader is unfamiliar with the word “booty” except in the context of a slang reference to a person’s rear end. The word is likely to generate childish giggles inappropriate for the reading of sacred text. Accordingly, the publishers have opted for the change. I cannot attest to the accuracy or the beauty of the translation itself. But it speaks volumes about how it perceives its readership.
