« | Job 14 | » |
1 Man born of woman is short-lived and full of trouble,
2 Like a flower that springs up and fades, swift as a shadow that does not abide.
3 Upon such a one will you cast your eyes so as to bring him into judgment before you,
4 Can a man be found who is clean of defilement? There is none,
5 however short his days. You know the number of his months; you have fixed the limit which he cannot pass.
6 Look away from him and let him be, while, like a hireling, he completes his day.
7 For a tree there is hope, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Even though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the dust,
9 Yet at the first whiff of water it may flourish again and put forth branches like a young plant.
10 But when a man dies, all vigor leaves him; when man expires, where then is he?
11 As when the waters of a lake fail, or a stream grows dry and parches,
12 So men lie down and rise not again. Till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.
13 Oh, that you would hide me in the nether world and keep me sheltered till your wrath is past; would fix a time for me, and then remember me!
14 When a man has died, were he to live again, all the days of my drudgery I would wait, until my relief should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would esteem the work of your hands.
16 Surely then you would count my steps, and not keep watch for sin in me.
17 My misdeeds would be sealed up in a pouch, and you would cover over my guilt.
18 But as a mountain falls at last and its rock is moved from its place,
19 As waters wear away the stones and floods wash away the soil of the land, so you destroy the hope of man.
20 You prevail once for all against him and he passes on; with changed appearance you send him away.
21 If his sons are honored, he is not aware of it; if they are in disgrace, he does not know about them.
22 Only his own flesh pains him, and his soul grieves for him.
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.