« | Isaiah 32 | » |
1 See, a king will reign justly and princes will rule rightly.
2 Each of them will be a shelter from the wind, a retreat from the rain. They will be like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a great rock in a parched land.
3 The eyes of those who see will not be closed; the ears of those who hear will be attentive.
4 The flighty will become wise and capable, and the stutterers will speak fluently and clearly.
5 No more will the fool be called noble, nor the trickster be considered honorable.
6 For the fool speaks foolishly, planning evil in his heart: How to do wickedness, to speak perversely against the LORD, To let the hungry go empty and the thirsty be without drink.
7 And the trickster uses wicked trickery, planning crimes: How to ruin the poor with lies, and the needy when they plead their case.
8 But the noble man plans noble things, and by noble things he stands.
9 O complacent ladies, rise up and hear my voice, overconfident women, give heed to my words.
10 In a little more than a year you overconfident ones will be shaken; The vintage will fail, there will be no harvest.
11 Tremble, you who are complacent! Shudder, you who are overconfident! Strip yourselves bare, with only a loincloth to cover you.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, the fruitful vine,
13 And the soil of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers; For all the joyful houses, the wanton city.
14 Yes, the castle will be forsaken, the noisy city deserted;
15 Until the spirit from on high is poured out on us. Then will the desert become an orchard and the orchard be regarded as a forest.
16 Right will dwell in the desert and justice abide in the orchard.
17 Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security.
18 My people will live in peaceful country, in secure dwellings and quiet resting places.
19 Down it comes, as trees come down in the forest! The city will be utterly laid low. Hill and tower will become wasteland forever for wild asses to frolic in, and flocks to pasture,
20 Happy are you who sow beside every stream, and let the ox and the ass go freely!
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.