« | Psalm 145 | » |
1 Praise. Of David. I will extol you, my God and king; I will bless your name forever.
2 Every day I will bless you; I will praise your name forever.
3 Great is the LORD and worthy of high praise; God's grandeur is beyond understanding.
4 One generation praises your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works.
5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory, tell of your wonderful deeds.
6 They speak of your fearsome power and attest to your great deeds.
7 They publish the renown of your abounding goodness and joyfully sing of your justice.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love.
9 The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature.
10 All your works give you thanks, O LORD and your faithful bless you.
11 They speak of the glory of your reign and tell of your great works,
12 Making known to all your power, the glorious splendor of your rule.
13 Your reign is a reign for all ages, your dominion for all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in every word, and faithful in every work.
14 The LORD supports all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 You, LORD, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works.
18 You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth.
19 You satisfy the desire of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them.
20 You, LORD, watch over all who love you, but all the wicked you destroy.
21 My mouth will speak your praises, LORD; all flesh will bless your holy name forever.
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.