"Thou," "Thee," and "Thy"

       "Thou" may sound old-fashioned, but English is now the only Indo-European language that doesn't have a familiar form for "you."

       French has "tu" and "vous," one the familiar, the other formal.  Same with German "du" and "Sie."  We virtually struck "thou" out of the language.  German "du" and English "thou" have an especially close affinity:  "du" became "thou."

       A translation I grew up on of some wonderful Hebrew is no longer used, much to my chagrin.  Part of that older English:


"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day shall be upon thy heart."


       "You" becomes more remote.  No longer does God speak to the people God came to live amongst in the familial terms of relationship.