« | Psalm 56 | » |
1 For the director. According to Yonath elem rehoqim. A miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him at Gath.
2 Have mercy on me, God, for I am treated harshly; attackers press me all the day.
3 My foes treat me harshly all the day; yes, many are my attackers. O Most High,
4 when I am afraid, in you I place my trust.
5 God, I praise your promise; in you I trust, I do not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?
6 All the day they foil my plans; their every thought is of evil against me.
7 They hide together in ambush; they watch my every step; they lie in wait for my life.
8 They are evil; watch them, God! Cast the nations down in your anger!
9 My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book?
10 My foes turn back when I call on you. This I know: God is on my side.
11 God, I praise your promise;
12 in you I trust, I do not fear. What can mere mortals do to me?
13 I have made vows to you, God; with offerings I will fulfill them,
14 Once you have snatched me from death, kept my feet from stumbling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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.