« | Job 30 | » |
1 But now they hold me in derision who are younger in years than I; Whose fathers I should have disdained to rank with the dogs of my flock.
2 Such strength as they had, to me meant nought; they were utterly destitute.
3 In want and hunger was their lot, they who fled to the parched wastelands:
4 They plucked saltwort and shrubs; the roots of the broom plant were their food.
5 They were banished from among men, with an outcry like that against a thief--
6 To dwell on the slopes of the wadies, in caves of sand and stone;
7 Among the bushes they raised their raucous cry; under the nettles they huddled together.
8 Irresponsible, nameless men, they were driven out of the land.
9 Yet now they sing of me in mockery; I am become a byword among them.
10 They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, they do not hesitate to spit in my face!
11 Indeed, they have loosed their bonds; they lord it over me, and have thrown off restraint in my presence.
12 To subvert my paths they rise up; they build their approaches for my ruin.
13 To destroy me, they attack with none to stay them;
14 as through a wide breach they advance. Amid the uproar they come on in waves;
15 over me rolls the terror. My dignity is borne off on the wind, and my welfare vanishes like a cloud.
16 My soul ebbs away from me;
17 My frame takes no rest by night; my inward parts seethe and will not be stilled.
18 One with great power lays hold of my clothing; by the collar of my tunic he seizes me:
19 He has cast me into the mire; I am leveled with the dust and ashes.
20 I cry to you, but you do not answer me; you stand off and look at me,
21 Then you turn upon me without mercy and with your strong hand you buffet me.
22 You raise me up and drive me before the wind; I am tossed about by the tempest.
23 Indeed I know you will turn me back in death to the destined place of everyone alive.
24 Yet should not a hand be held out to help a wretched man in his calamity?
25 Or have I not wept for the hardships of others; was not my soul grieved for the destitute?
26 Yet when I looked for good, then evil came; when I expected light, then came darkness.
27 days of affliction have overtaken me.
28 I go about in gloom, without the sun; I rise up in public to voice my grief.
29 I have become the brother of jackals, companion to the ostrich.
30 My blackened skin falls away from me; the heat scorches my very frame.
31 My harp is turned to mourning, and my reed pipe to sounds of weeping.
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.