« | Job 24 | » |
1 "Why doesn't the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain?
2 Evil people steal land by moving the boundary markers. They steal livestock and put them in their own pastures.
3 They take the orphan's donkey and demand the widow's ox as security for a loan.
4 The poor are pushed off the path; the needy must hide together for safety.
5 Like wild donkeys in the wilderness, the poor must spend all their time looking for food, searching even in the desert for food for their children.
6 They harvest a field they do not own, and they glean in the vineyards of the wicked.
7 All night they lie naked in the cold, without clothing or covering.
8 They are soaked by mountain showers, and they huddle against the rocks for want of a home.
9 "The wicked snatch a widow's child from her breast, taking the baby as security for a loan.
10 The poor must go about naked, without any clothing. They harvest food for others while they themselves are starving.
11 They press out olive oil without being allowed to taste it, and they tread in the winepress as they suffer from thirst.
12 The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the wounded cry for help, yet God ignores their moaning.
13 "Wicked people rebel against the light. They refuse to acknowledge its ways or stay in its paths.
14 The murderer rises in the early dawn to kill the poor and needy; at night he is a thief.
15 The adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, 'No one will see me then.' He hides his face so no one will know him.
16 Thieves break into houses at night and sleep in the daytime. They are not acquainted with the light.
17 The black night is their morning. They ally themselves with the terrors of the darkness.
18 "But they disappear like foam down a river. Everything they own is cursed, and they are afraid to enter their own vineyards.
19 The grave consumes sinners just as drought and heat consume snow.
20 Their own mothers will forget them. Maggots will find them sweet to eat. No one will remember them. Wicked people are broken like a tree in the storm.
21 They cheat the woman who has no son to help her. They refuse to help the needy widow.
22 "God, in his power, drags away the rich. They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.
23 They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them.
24 And though they are great now, in a moment they will be gone like all others, cut off like heads of grain.
25 Can anyone claim otherwise? Who can prove me wrong?"
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.