« | Psalm 58 | » |
1 For the leader. Do not destroy. A miktam of David.
2 Do you indeed pronounce justice, O gods; do you judge mortals fairly?
3 No, you freely engage in crime; your hands dispense violence to the earth.
4 The wicked have been corrupt since birth; liars from the womb, they have gone astray.
5 Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like that of a serpent stopping its ears,
6 So as not to hear the voice of the charmer who casts such cunning spells.
7 O God, smash the teeth in their mouths; break the jaw-teeth of these lions, LORD!
8 Make them vanish like water flowing away; trodden down, let them wither like grass.
9 Let them dissolve like a snail that oozes away, like an untimely birth that never sees the sun.
10 Suddenly, like brambles or thistles, have the whirlwind snatch them away.
11 Then the just shall rejoice to see the vengeance and bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
12 Then it will be said: "Truly there is a reward for the just; there is a God who is judge on earth!"
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.