« | Psalm 38 | » |
1 A psalm of David. For remembrance.
2 LORD, punish me no more in your anger; in your wrath do not chastise me!
3 Your arrows have sunk deep in me; your hand has come down upon me.
4 My flesh is afflicted because of your anger; my frame aches because of my sin.
5 My iniquities overwhelm me, a burden beyond my strength.
6 Foul and festering are my sores because of my folly.
7 I am stooped and deeply bowed; all day I go about mourning.
8 My loins burn with fever; my flesh is afflicted.
9 I am numb and utterly crushed; I wail with anguish of heart.
10 My Lord, my deepest yearning is before you; my groaning is not hidden from you.
11 My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed.
12 Friends and companions shun my pain; my neighbors stand far off.
13 Those who seek my life lay snares for me; they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin; they plot treachery all the day.
14 But I am like the deaf, hearing nothing, like the dumb, saying nothing,
15 Like someone who does not hear, who has no answer ready.
16 LORD, I wait for you; O Lord, my God, answer me.
17 For I fear they will gloat, exult over me if I stumble.
18 I am very near to falling; my pain is with me always.
19 I acknowledge my guilt and grieve over my sin.
20 But many are my foes without cause, a multitude of enemies without reason,
21 Repaying me evil for good, harassing me for pursuing good.
22 Forsake me not, O LORD; my God, be not far from me!
23 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my salvation!
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.