« | Psalm 60 | » |
1 For the leader; according to "The Lily of...." A miktam of David (for teaching),
2 when he fought against Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah; and Joab, coming back, killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
3 O God, you rejected us, broke our defenses; you were angry but now revive us.
4 You rocked the earth, split it open; repair the cracks for it totters.
5 You made your people go through hardship, made us stagger from the wine you gave us.
6 Raise up a flag for those who revere you, a refuge for them out of bow shot. Selah
7 Help with your right hand and answer us that your loved ones may escape.
8 In the sanctuary God promised: "I will exult, will apportion Shechem; the valley of Succoth I will measure out.
9 Gilead is mine, mine is Manasseh; Ephraim is the helmet for my head, Judah, my own scepter.
10 Moab is my washbowl; upon Edom I cast my sandal. I will triumph over Philistia."
11 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me into Edom?
12 Was it not you who rejected us, God? Do you no longer march with our armies?
13 Give us aid against the foe; worthless is human help.
14 We will triumph with the help of God, who will trample down our foes.
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.