« | Psalm 10 | » |
1 O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3 For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.
4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
5 Yet they succeed in everything they do. They do not see your punishment awaiting them. They sneer at all their enemies.
6 They think, "Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!"
7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats. Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8 They lurk in ambush in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They are always searching for helpless victims.
9 Like lions crouched in hiding, they wait to pounce on the helpless. Like hunters they capture the helpless and drag them away in nets.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed; they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11 The wicked think, "God isn't watching us! He has closed his eyes and won't even see what we do!"
12 Arise, O LORD! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless!
13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, "God will never call us to account."
14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.
15 Break the arms of these wicked, evil people! Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
16 The LORD is king forever and ever! The godless nations will vanish from the land.
17 LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them. For the choir director: A psalm of David.
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.