« | Psalm 135 | » |
1 Hallelujah! I Praise the name of the LORD! Praise, you servants of the LORD,
2 Who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the LORD; the LORD is good! Sing to God's name; it is gracious!
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob, Israel as a treasured possession.
5 I know that the LORD is great, our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD wishes he does in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the deeps.
7 He raises storm clouds from the end of the earth, makes lightning and rain, brings forth wind from the storehouse.
8 He struck down Egypt's firstborn, human and beast alike,
9 And sent signs and portents against you, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 The Lord struck down many nations, slew mighty kings--
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, all the kings of Canaan--
12 And made their land a heritage, a heritage for Israel his people.
13 O LORD, your name is forever, your renown, from age to age!
14 For the LORD defends his people, shows mercy to his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not;
17 They have ears but hear not; no breath is in their mouths.
18 Their makers shall be like them, all who trust in them.
19 House of Israel, bless the LORD! House of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 House of Levi, bless the LORD! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed from Zion be the LORD, who dwells in Jerusalem! Hallelujah!
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.