« | Job 4 | » |
1 Then spoke Eliphaz the Temanite, who said:
2 If someone attempts a word with you, will you mind? For how can anyone refrain from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, and have made firm their feeble hands.
4 Your words have upheld the stumbler; you have strengthened his faltering knees.
5 But now that it comes to you, you are impatient; when it touches yourself, you are dismayed.
6 Is not your piety a source of confidence, and your integrity of life your hope?
7 Reflect now, what innocent person perishes? Since when are the upright destroyed?
8 As I see it, those who plow for mischief and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his wrath they are consumed.
10 Though the lion roars, though the king of beasts cries out, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken;
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 For a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.
13 In my thoughts during visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and shuddering, that terrified me to the bones.
15 Then a spirit passed before me, and the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It paused, but its likeness I could not discern; a figure was before my eyes, and I heard a still voice:
17 "Can a man be righteous as against God? Can a mortal be blameless against his Maker?
18 Lo, he puts no trust in his servants, and with his angels he can find fault.
19 How much more with those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed more easily than the moth!
20 Morning or evening they may be shattered; with no heed paid to it, they perish forever.
21 The pegs of their tent are plucked up; they die without knowing wisdom."
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.