« | Isaiah 3 | » |
1 The Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall take away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and prop (all supplies of bread and water):
2 Hero and warrior, judge and prophet, fortune-teller and elder,
3 The captain of fifty and the nobleman, counselor, skilled magician, and expert charmer.
4 I will make striplings their princes; the fickle shall govern them,
5 And the people shall oppress one another, yes, every man his neighbor. The child shall be bold toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.
6 When a man seizes his brother in his father's house, saying, "You have clothes! Be our ruler, and take in hand this ruin!"--
7 Then shall he answer in that day: "I will not undertake to cure this, when in my own house there is no bread or clothing! You shall not make me ruler of the people."
8 Jerusalem is crumbling, Judah is falling; for their speech and their deeds are before the LORD, a provocation in the sight of his majesty.
9 Their very look bears witness against them; their sin like Sodom they vaunt, They hide it not. Woe to them! they deal out evil to themselves.
10 Happy the just, for it will be well with them, the fruit of their works they will eat.
11 Woe to the wicked man! All goes ill, with the work of his hands he will be repaid.
12 My people-- a babe in arms will be their tyrant, and women will rule them! O my people, your leaders mislead, they destroy the paths you should follow.
13 The LORD rises to accuse, standing to try his people.
14 The Lord enters into judgment with his people's elders and princes: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the loot wrested from the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people, and grinding down the poor when they look to you? says the Lord, the GOD of hosts.
16 The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with necks outstretched Ogling and mincing as they go, their anklets tinkling with every step,
17 The Lord shall cover the scalps of Zion's daughters with scabs, and the LORD shall bare their heads.
18 On that day the LORD will do away with the finery of the anklets, sunbursts, and crescents;
19 the pendants, bracelets, and veils;
20 the headdresses, bangles, cinctures, perfume boxes, and amulets;
21 the signet rings, and the nose rings;
22 the court dresses, wraps, cloaks, and purses;
23 the mirrors, linen tunics, turbans, and shawls.
24 Instead of perfume there will be stench, instead of the girdle, a rope, And for the coiffure, baldness; for the rich gown, a sackcloth skirt. Then, instead of beauty:
25 Your men will fall by the sword, and your champions, in war;
26 Her gates will lament and mourn, as the city sits desolate on the ground.
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.