« | Psalm 74 | » |
1 A maskil of Asaph. I Why, God, have you cast us off forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your flock that you gathered of old, the tribe you redeemed as your very own. Remember Mount Zion where you dwell.
3 Turn your steps toward the utter ruins, toward the sanctuary devastated by the enemy.
4 Your foes roared triumphantly in your shrine; they set up their own tokens of victory.
5 They hacked away like foresters gathering boughs, swinging their axes in a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all your engraved work, pounded it with hammer and pick.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire; the abode of your name they razed and profaned.
8 They said in their hearts, "Destroy them all! Burn all the shrines of God in the land!"
9 Now we see no signs, we have no prophets, no one who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, shall the enemy jeer? Shall the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why draw back your right hand, why keep it idle beneath your cloak?
12 Yet you, God, are my king from of old, winning victories throughout the earth.
13 You stirred up the sea in your might; you smashed the heads of the dragons on the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan, tossed him for food to the sharks.
15 You opened up springs and torrents, brought dry land out of the primeval waters.
16 Yours the day and yours the night; you set the moon and sun in place.
17 You fixed all the limits of the earth; summer and winter you made.
18 Remember how the enemy has jeered, O LORD, how a foolish people has reviled your name.
19 Do not surrender to beasts those who praise you; do not forget forever the life of your afflicted.
20 Look to your covenant, for the land is filled with gloom; the pastures, with violence.
21 Let not the oppressed turn back in shame; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, God, defend your cause; remember the constant jeers of the fools.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your foes, the unceasing uproar of your enemies.
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.