« | Psalm 45 | » |
1 For the leader; according to "Lilies." A maskil of the Korahites. A love song.
2 My heart is stirred by a noble theme, as I sing my ode to the king. My tongue is the pen of a nimble scribe.
3 You are the most handsome of men; fair speech has graced your lips, for God has blessed you forever.
4 Gird your sword upon your hip, mighty warrior! In splendor and majesty ride on triumphant!
5 In the cause of truth and justice may your right hand show you wondrous deeds.
6 Your arrows are sharp; peoples will cower at your feet; the king's enemies will lose heart.
7 Your throne, O god, stands forever; your royal scepter is a scepter for justice.
8 You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings.
9 With myrrh, aloes, and cassia your robes are fragrant. From ivory-paneled palaces stringed instruments bring you joy.
10 Daughters of kings are your lovely wives; a princess arrayed in Ophir's gold comes to stand at your right hand.
11 Listen, my daughter, and understand; pay me careful heed. Forget your people and your father's house,
12 that the king might desire your beauty. He is your lord;
13 honor him, daughter of Tyre. Then the richest of the people will seek your favor with gifts.
14 All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters, her raiment threaded with gold;
15 In embroidered apparel she is led to the king. The maids of her train are presented to the king.
16 They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim; they enter the palace of the king.
17 The throne of your fathers your sons will have; you shall make them princes through all the land.
18 I will make your name renowned through all generations; thus nations shall praise you 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.