« | Job 38 | » |
1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 "Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
11 I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!'
12 "Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night's wickedness?
14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.
15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.
16 "Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19 "Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
22 "Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?
25 "Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?
28 "Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.
31 "Can you direct the movement of the stars-- binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 "Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?
39 "Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions' appetites
40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?
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.