« | Psalm 144 | » |
1 Of David. I Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war;
2 My safe guard and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me.
3 LORD, what are mortals that you notice them; human beings, that you take thought of them?
4 They are but a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.
5 LORD, incline your heavens and come; touch the mountains and make them smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter my foes; shoot your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach out your hand from on high; deliver me from the many waters; rescue me from the hands of foreign foes.
8 Their mouths speak untruth; their right hands are raised in lying oaths.
9 O God, a new song I will sing to you; on a ten-stringed lyre I will play for you.
10 You give victory to kings; you delivered David your servant. From the menacing sword
11 deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreign foes. Their mouths speak untruth; their right hands are raised in lying oaths.
12 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, Our daughters, like carved columns, shapely as those of the temple.
13 May our barns be full with every kind of store. May our sheep increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; may our oxen be well fattened.
14 May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, no outcry in our streets.
15 Happy the people so blessed; happy the people whose God is the LORD.
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.