« | Job 36 | » |
1 Elihu continued speaking:
2 "Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God!
3 I will present profound arguments for the righteousness of my Creator.
4 I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.
5 "God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
6 He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.
8 If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble,
9 he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride.
10 He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil.
11 "If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
12 But if they refuse to listen to him, they will be killed by the sword and die from lack of understanding.
13 For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.
14 They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living.
15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.
16 "God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.
17 But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don't worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
18 But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don't let yourself be bribed into sin.
19 Could all your wealth or all your mighty efforts keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed.
21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil.
22 "Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
23 No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, 'You have done wrong.'
24 Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.
25 Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance.
26 "Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.
27 He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain.
28 The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.
29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
30 See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.
33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.
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.