Genesis, translated into French by James des Coutures, with literal Remarks upon the difficult Passages, 4 Vols. in 12mo. at Paris, 1687, and 1688. James Parain, Baron des Coutures, was of Avranches, and died in 1702. He was conversant in his Studies about both Sacred and Profane Matters: For tho’ he was a Soldier, he applied himself to the Study of the Scripture, and has some Performances upon Philosophy. See the Works of the Learned for the Year 1688, in the Month of December.
Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles, translated out of Hebrew into French by Philip Codurque, with Notes of his own making, in 8vo. at Paris, 1647, 1657. The Psalms in French, of Guiart des Moulins’s Version, 2 Vols in 4to. at Paris, about the Year 1487. This Translation was revised, as it is generally believed, by le Fevre, of Estaples, ibid. for Simon de Colines, 1525, 1530.
The Psalter in French and Latin of Gabriel du Puits Herbaut’s Version, in 8vo. Paris, 1555, -63, -75, &c.
The same in French, of Renaut de Beaune’s Version in 8vo. Paris, 1587.
The same translated out of Hebrew into French by Rodolphus Maitre, in 12mo. Paris, 1629.
The same, with the Canticles of Michael de Marolles’s Version, with short Notes, in 8vo. Paris, 1644, and since several times reprinted.
The same translated by Isaac le Maitre, with Notes extracted from St. Austin. Paris, 1664.
There are likewise French Translations of the Psalms by Macé, Coquelin, Choisi, Dupin, Melicque, &c. That of Francis Macé was published in 1686, and 1706, in 12mo. together with a Paraphrase. See what the Journal des Sçavans says of it, the Year 1686, p. 279. He was a Parisian, Rector of St. Opportune, and died in 1721. That of Nicholas Coquelin, ibid. p. 327. It is rather a Paraphrase than a Translation, tion, as he himself confesses in his Preface. There is an Epistle Dedicatory to King Lewis XIV. which is worth reading. He too was of Paris, Doctor of the Sorbonne, and Chancellor of the Church of Paris. He died in 1693.
The Version of the Psalms by Francis Timoleon de Choisi, is of 1687. He has added the Life of David to it, whom he represents as a Prince continually Triumphant, and that of Solomon under the Idea of a King always Pacifick. See the History of the Works of the Learned for the Year 1687. sect. 15. in the Month of November. He was of a Noble Family. In 1685 Lewis XIV sent him Ambassador to the King of Siam: At his Return he was admitted of the Academy of Sciences. M. Dupin, who must have known him, says, that he had the Art to join with continual Study, great Civility and Gaiety of Conversation, great Purity of Language, and a thousand other fine Qualities. He died in 1724, while he was writing his Ecclesiastical History, whereof he had already published some Volumes.
M. Dupin’s Version of the Psalms was made from the Latin Text translated from the Hebrew. It was printed at Paris in 1691, in 12mo. and in the same Year he published the Psalter, with two Latin Versions, the Vulgate, and another corrected from the Hebrew, in 8vo. He began with this Book of Holy Scripture, intending it as an Essay of what he had designed to publish on the whole Bible; but we have only the Pentateuch by him, printed at Paris, 1702, 2 Vols. in 8vo. He has added excellent Notes to it. Dupin was born at Paris, went through his first Studies in the College of Harcourt, and was in the Third Form when he was as yet but Ten Years old. He received the Doctorate in 1684, and died in 1719, after having been the Author of a great number of Works, whereof he himself has made a Catalogue in his Bibliotheque Ecclesiastique, tom. 6. of the 17th Century.
The Version of the Psalms, by James de Melique, was printed at Paris, in 1705, in 8vo. soon after his Death, which happen’d the same Year. There are literal and Grammatical Annotations in it.
Eustache le Noble has also published a French Version of the Psalms, printed at Paris, in 1706. with literal Notes, in 8vo. F. Adam, a Jesuit, with the Latin Version, ibid. in 12mo. He has added the Hymns made use of by the Church in its Office. He was a Native of Limoges, an eminent Preacher for his Time, a pretty good Poet, and a Controversial Writer. He employed his Pen particularly against M. Daillé the Minister, and with good Success. He died in 1684, being 76 Years old. Eustache le Noble was of Troyes in Champaigne, and had been Attorney-General at Metz. He died in 1711.
Henry Vignier printed his Version, ibid. in 1703. in 12mo. with pious Reflections: Philip Lallemant, a Jesuit, put out one in 1708. It has been several times reprinted. F. Lallemant is still living. F. Vignier was of Champaigne, and a Priest of the Oratory. He died in 1706.
Peter Gorse published the Libri Sapientiales in French, at Paris, 1654, -55. 4 Vols. in 12mo. Francis de Bellegarde translated the same Books, printed with Moral Explanations, ibid. 1701. Peter Gorse was of Alby, where he came into the World in 1590. He commenced Jesuit, and died in 1661, at 71 Years of age.
Francis d’Aurat put out the Canticles, with literal Notes, at Lyons, in 1693. the second Edition, in 8vo. as did likewise Armand Gerard, with Paraphrases, at Paris, 1690. in 8vo. The last of these was a Native and Canon of Sarlat. He died in 1697. Francis d’Aurat, who was a Priest, flourished in 1689.