« | Job 10 | » |
1 "I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.
2 I will say to God, 'Don't simply condemn me-- tell me the charge you are bringing against me.
3 What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked?
4 Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them?
5 Is your lifetime only as long as ours? Is your life so short
6 that you must quickly probe for my guilt and search for my sin?
7 Although you know I am not guilty, no one can rescue me from your hands.
8 " 'You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me.
9 Remember that you made me from dust-- will you turn me back to dust so soon?
10 You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.
12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.
13 " 'Yet your real motive-- your true intent--
14 was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt.
15 If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I'm innocent, I can't hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.
16 And if I hold my head high, you hunt me like a lion and display your awesome power against me.
17 Again and again you witness against me. You pour out your growing anger on me and bring fresh armies against me.
18 " 'Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother's womb? Why didn't you let me die at birth?
19 It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave.
20 I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfort
21 before I leave-- never to return-- for the land of darkness and utter gloom.
22 It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight.'"
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.