« | Isaiah 13 | » |
1 An oracle concerning Babylon; a vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz.
2 Upon the bare mountains set up a signal; cry out to them, Wave for them to enter the gates of the volunteers.
3 I have commanded my dedicated soldiers, I have summoned my warriors, eager and bold to carry out my anger.
4 Listen! the rumble on the mountains: that of an immense throng! Listen! the noise of kingdoms, nations assembled! The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle.
5 They come from a far-off country, and from the end of the heavens, The LORD and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy all the land.
6 Howl, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
7 Therefore all hands fall helpless, the bows of the young men fall from their hands. Every man's heart melts
8 in terror. Pangs and sorrows take hold of them, like a woman in labor they writhe; They look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.
9 Lo, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and burning anger; To lay waste the land and destroy the sinners within it!
10 The stars and constellations of the heavens send forth no light; The sun is dark when it rises, and the light of the moon does not shine.
11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their guilt. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, the insolence of tyrants I will humble.
12 I will make mortals more rare than pure gold, men, than gold of Ophir.
13 For this I will make the heavens tremble and the earth shall be shaken from its place, At the wrath of the LORD of hosts on the day of his burning anger.
14 Like a hunted gazelle, or a flock that no one gathers, Every man shall turn to his kindred and flee to his own land.
15 Everyone who is caught shall be run through; to a man, they shall fall by the sword.
16 Their infants shall be dashed to pieces in their sight; their houses shall be plundered and their wives ravished.
17 I am stirring up against them the Medes, who think nothing of silver and take no delight in gold.
18 The fruit of the womb they shall not spare, nor shall they have eyes of pity for children.
19 And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory and pride of the Chaldeans, Shall be overthrown by God like Sodom and like Gomorrah.
20 She shall never be inhabited, nor dwelt in, from age to age; The Arab shall not pitch his tent there, nor shepherds couch their flocks.
21 But wildcats shall rest there and owls shall fill the houses; There ostriches shall dwell, and satyrs shall dance.
22 Desert beasts shall howl in her castles, and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is near at hand and her days shall not be prolonged.
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.