« | Job 4 | » |
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job:
2 "Will you be patient and let me say a word? For who could keep from speaking out?
3 "In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.
4 Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees.
5 But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.
6 Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?
7 "Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?
8 My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.
9 A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger.
10 The lion roars and the wildcat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.
11 The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered.
12 "This truth was given to me in secret, as though whispered in my ear.
13 It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep.
14 Fear gripped me, and my bones trembled.
15 A spirit swept past my face, and my hair stood on end.
16 The spirit stopped, but I couldn't see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say,
17 'Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?'
18 "If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness,
19 how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.
20 They are alive in the morning but dead by evening, gone forever without a trace.
21 Their tent-cords are pulled and the tent collapses, and they die in ignorance.
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.