« | Job 21 | » |
1 Then Job spoke again:
2 "Listen closely to what I am saying. That's one consolation you can give me.
3 Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
4 "My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.
5 Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder. My body trembles.
7 "Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?
8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.
9 Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.
10 Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
11 They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance.
12 They sing with tambourine and harp. They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.
14 And yet they say to God, 'Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?'
16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
17 "Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
18 Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all!
19 " 'Well,' you say, 'at least God will punish their children!' But I say he should punish the ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.
20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes. Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
21 For they will not care what happens to their family after they are dead.
22 "But who can teach a lesson to God, since he judges even the most powerful?
23 One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure,
24 the picture of good health, vigorous and fit.
25 Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life.
26 But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.
27 "Look, I know what you're thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.
28 You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
29 But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth.
30 Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster.
31 No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.
32 When they are carried to the grave, an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
33 A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery. Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest, and the earth gives sweet repose.
34 "How can your empty clich�s comfort me? All your explanations are lies!"
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.