« | Exodus 25 | » |
1 This is what the LORD then said to Moses:
2 "Tell the Israelites to take up a collection for me. From every man you shall accept the contribution that his heart prompts him to give me.
3 These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold, silver and bronze;
4 violet, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;
5 rams' skins dyed red, and tahash skins; acacia wood;
6 oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
7 onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece.
8 "They shall make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their midst.
9 This Dwelling and all its furnishings you shall make exactly according to the pattern that I will now show you.
10 "You shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.
11 Plate it inside and outside with pure gold, and put a molding of gold around the top of it.
12 Cast four gold rings and fasten them on the four supports of the ark, two rings on one side and two on the opposite side.
13 Then make poles of acacia wood and plate them with gold.
14 These poles you are to put through the rings on the sides of the ark, for carrying it;
15 they must remain in the rings of the ark and never be withdrawn.
16 In the ark you are to put the commandments which I will give you.
17 "You shall then make a propitiatory of pure gold, two cubits and a half long, and one and a half cubits wide.
18 Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatory,
19 fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end.
20 The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, covering the propitiatory with them; they shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory.
21 This propitiatory you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the commandments which I will give you.
22 There I will meet you and there, from above the propitiatory, between the two cherubim on the ark of the commandments, I will tell you all the commands that I wish you to give the Israelites.
23 "You shall also make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
24 Plate it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it.
25 Surround it with a frame, a handbreadth high, with a molding of gold around the frame.
26 You shall also make four rings of gold for it and fasten them at the four corners, one at each leg,
27 on two opposite sides of the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table.
28 These poles for carrying the table you shall make of acacia wood and plate with gold.
29 Of pure gold you shall make its plates and cups, as well as its pitchers and bowls for pouring libations.
30 On the table you shall always keep showbread set before me.
31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure beaten gold-- its shaft and branches-- with its cups and knobs and petals springing directly from it.
32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand, three branches on one side, and three on the other.
33 On one branch there are to be three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; on the opposite branch there are to be three cups, shaped like almond blossoms, each with its knob and petals; and so for the six branches that extend from the lampstand.
34 On the shaft there are to be four cups, shaped like almond blossoms, with their knobs and petals,
35 including a knob below each of the three pairs of branches that extend from the lampstand.
36 Their knobs and branches shall so spring from it that the whole will form but a single piece of pure beaten gold.
37 You shall then make seven lamps for it and so set up the lamps that they shed their light on the space in front of the lampstand.
38 These, as well as the trimming shears and trays, must be of pure gold.
39 Use a talent of pure gold for the lampstand and all its appurtenances.
40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
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.