« | Ecclesiastes 10 | » |
1 More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
2 The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
3 When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
4 Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
5 I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
6 a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
9 He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
10 If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill.
11 If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
14 yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him?
15 When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts).
18 When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
20 Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say.
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.