« | Job 24 | » |
1 Why are not times set by the Almighty, and why do his friends not see his days?
2 The wicked remove landmarks; they steal away herds and pasture them.
3 The asses of orphans they drive away; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They force the needy off the road; all the poor of the land are driven into hiding.
5 Like wild asses in the desert, these go forth to their task of seeking food; The steppe provides food for the young among them;
6 they harvest at night in the untilled land.
7 They pass the night naked, without clothing, for they have no covering against the cold;
8 They are drenched with the rain of the mountains, and for want of shelter they cling to the rock.
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10 and famished are those who carry the sheaves.
11 Between the rows they press out the oil; they glean in the the vineyard of the wicked. They tread the wine presses, yet suffer thirst,
12 From the dust the dying groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out (yet God does not treat it as unseemly).
13 There are those who are rebels against the light; they know not its ways; they abide not in its paths.
14 When there is no light the murderer rises, to kill the poor and needy.
15 The eye of the adulterer watches for the twilight; he says, "No eye will see me." In the night the thief roams about, and he puts a mask over his face;
16 in the dark he breaks into houses. By day they shut themselves in; none of them know the light,
17 for daylight they regard as darkness.
18 Their portion in the land is accursed,
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20 and wickedness is splintered like wood.
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22 To him who rises without assurance of his life
23 he gives safety and support. He sustains the mighty by his strength, and his eyes are on their ways.
24 They are exalted for a while, and then they are gone; they are laid low and, like all others, are gathered up; like ears of grain they shrivel.
25 If this be not so, who will confute me, and reduce my argument to nought?
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.