« | Job 29 | » |
1 Job took up his theme anew and said;
2 Oh, that I were as in the months past! as in the days when God watched over me,
3 While he kept his lamp shining above my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in my flourishing days, when God sheltered my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were round about me;
6 When my footsteps were bathed in milk, and the rock flowed with streams of oil;
7 When I went forth to the gate of the city and set up my seat in the square-
8 Then the young men saw me and withdrew, while the elders rose up and stood;
9 The chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10 The voice of the princes was silenced, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Whoever heard of me blessed me; those who saw me commended me.
12 For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted;
13 The blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful.
14 I wore my honesty like a garment; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame was I;
16 I was a father to the needy; the rights of the stranger I studied,
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked man; from his teeth I forced the prey.
18 Then I said: "In my own nest I shall grow old; I shall multiply years like the phoenix.
19 My root is spread out to the waters; the dew rests by night on my branches.
20 My glory is fresh within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand!"
21 For me they listened and waited; they were silent for my counsel.
22 Once I spoke, they said no more, but received my pronouncement drop by drop.
23 They waited for me as for the rain; they drank in my words like the spring rains.
24 When I smiled on them they were reassured;
25 mourners took comfort from my cheerful glance. I chose out their way and presided; I took a king's place in the armed forces.
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.