« | Job 22 | » |
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 Can a man be profitable to God? Though to himself a wise man be profitable!
3 Is it of advantage to the Almighty if you are just? Or is it a gain to him if you make your ways perfect?
4 Is it because of your piety that he reproves you-- that he enters with you into judgment?
5 Is not your wickedness manifold? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 You have unjustly kept your kinsmen's goods in pawn, left them stripped naked of their clothing.
7 To the thirsty you have given no water to drink, and from the hungry you have withheld bread;
8 As if the land belonged to the man of might, and only the privileged were to dwell in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the resources of orphans you have destroyed.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and a sudden terror causes you dismay,
11 Or darkness, in which you cannot see; a deluge of waters covers you.
12 Does not God, in the heights of the heavens, behold the stars, high though they are?
13 Yet you say, "What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14 Clouds hide him so that he cannot see; he walks upon the vault of the heavens!"
15 Do you indeed keep to the ancient way trodden by worthless men,
16 Who were snatched away before their time; whose foundations a flood swept away?
17 These men said to God, "Depart from us!" and, "What can the Almighty do to us?"
18 (Yet he had filled their houses with good things! But far be from me the mind of the impious!)
19 The just look on and are gladdened, and the innocent deride them:
20 "Truly these have been destroyed where they stood, and such as were left, fire has consumed!"
21 Come to terms with him to be at peace. In this shall good come to you:
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you put iniquity far from your tent,
24 And treat raw gold like dust, and the fine gold of Ophir as pebbles from the brook,
25 Then the Almighty himself shall be your gold and your sparkling silver.
26 For then you shall delight in the Almighty and you shall lift up your face toward God.
27 You shall entreat him and he will hear you, and your vows you shall fulfill.
28 When you make a decision, it shall succeed for you, and upon your ways the light shall shine.
29 For he brings down the pride of the haughty, but the man of humble mien he saves.
30 God delivers him who is innocent; you shall be delivered through cleanness of hands.
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.