After reading Jewish authors complain about mistranslated passages from the Hebrew Bible, I welcome Hebrew scholar Alter’s thorough translation with an eye and ear for its innate literary qualities. A fine poet himself, Alter’s sensitive three volumes (including notes and footnotes that illuminate the working of puns and other devices) have become my go-to version in referencing passages and stories. The big and beautifully designed volumes are (1) the Five Books of Moses, (2) the Prophets, and (3) the Writings (Psalms and Proverbs, for instance).
Also of note are his The Art of Biblical Poetry and The Art of Biblical Narrative, examinations that challenge many earlier Biblical scholars’ contentions. I find both books to be excellent presentations of the craft of writing (and reading) both poetry and literary prose even apart from their Biblical subject.
Jnana's Red Barn 