« | Job 28 | » |
1 There is indeed a mine for silver, and a place for gold which men refine.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is melted out of stone.
3 He has set a boundary for the darkness; to the farthest confines he penetrates.
4
5 The earth, though out of it comes forth bread, is in fiery upheaval underneath.
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires, and there is gold in its dust.
7 The path to it no bird of prey knows, nor has the hawk's eye seen that path.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the lion gone that way.
9 He sets his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns the mountains at their foundations.
10 He splits channels in the rocks; his eyes behold all that is precious.
11 He probes the wellsprings of the streams, and brings hidden things to light.
12 But whence can wisdom be obtained, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knows nothing to equal it, nor is it to be had in the land of the living.
14 The abyss declares, "It is not in me"; and the sea says, "I have it not."
15 Solid gold cannot purchase it, nor can its price be paid with silver.
16 It cannot be bought with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire.
17 Gold or crystal cannot equal it, nor can golden vessels reach its worth.
18 Neither coral nor jasper should be thought of; it surpasses pearls and
19 Arabian topaz.
20 Whence, then, comes wisdom, and where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hid from the eyes of any beast; from the birds of the air it is concealed.
22 Abaddon and Death say, "Only by rumor have we heard of it."
23 God knows the way to it; it is he who is familiar with its place.
24 For he beholds the ends of the earth and sees all that is under the heavens.
25 He has weighed out the wind, and fixed the scope of the waters;
26 When he made rules for the rain and a path for the thunderbolts,
27 Then he saw wisdom and appraised it, gave it its setting, knew it through and through.
28 And to man he said: Behold, the fear of the LORD is wisdom; and avoiding evil is understanding.
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.