« | Job 41 | » |
1 Whoever might vainly hope to do so need only see him to be overthrown.
2 Is he not relentless when aroused; who then dares stand before him?
3 Who has assailed him and come off safe-- Who under all the heavens?
4 I need hardly mention his limbs, his strength, and the fitness of his armor.
5 Who can strip off his outer garment, or penetrate his double corselet?
6 Who can force open the doors of his mouth, close to his terrible teeth?
7 Rows of scales are on his back, tightly sealed together;
8 They are fitted each so close to the next that no space intervenes;
9 So joined one to another that they hold fast and cannot be parted.
10 When he sneezes, light flashes forth; his eyes are like those of the dawn.
11 Out of his mouth go forth firebrands; sparks of fire leap forth.
12 From his nostrils issues steam, as from a seething pot or bowl.
13 His breath sets coals afire; a flame pours from his mouth.
14 Strength abides in his neck, and terror leaps before him.
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16 His heart is hard as stone; his flesh, as the lower millstone.
17 When he rises up, the mighty are afraid; the waves of the sea fall back.
18 Should the sword reach him, it will not avail; nor will the spear, nor the dart, nor the javelin.
19 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.
20 The arrow will not put him to flight; slingstones used against him are but straws.
21 Clubs he esteems as splinters; he laughs at the crash of the spear.
22 His belly is sharp as pottery fragments; he spreads like a threshing sledge upon the mire.
23 He makes the depths boil like a pot; the sea he churns like perfume in a kettle.
24 Behind him he leaves a shining path; you would think the deep had the hoary head of age.
25 Upon the earth there is not his like, intrepid he was made.
26 All, however lofty, fear him; he is king over all proud beasts.
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.