« | Job 9 | » |
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God?
3 Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?
5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.
7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.
9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
10 He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.
11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
12 Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
13 He is God and he does not relent; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him!
15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.
16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words;
17 With a tempest he might overwhelm me, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He need not suffer me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs.
19 If it be a question of strength, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who will call him to account?
20 Though I were right, my own mouth might condemn me; were I innocent, he might put me in the wrong.
21 Though I am innocent, I myself cannot know it; I despise my life.
22 It is all one! therefore I say: Both the innocent and the wicked he destroys.
23 When the scourge slays suddenly, he laughs at the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he, who then is it?
25 My days are swifter than a runner, they flee away; they see no happiness;
26 They shoot by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping upon its prey.
27 If I say: I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer,
28 Then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 If I must be accounted guilty, why then should I strive in vain?
30 If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet you would plunge me in the ditch, so that my garments would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both
34 and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me;
35 that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me,
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.