« | Psalm 77 | » |
1 For the leader; al Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.
2 I cry aloud to God, cry to God to hear me.
3 On the day of my distress I seek the Lord; by night my hands are raised unceasingly; I refuse to be consoled.
4 When I think of God, I groan; as I ponder, my spirit grows faint. Selah
5 My eyes cannot close in sleep; I am troubled and cannot speak.
6 I consider the days of old; the years long past
7 I remember. In the night I meditate in my heart; I ponder and my spirit broods:
8 "Will the Lord reject us forever, never again show favor?
9 Has God's love ceased forever? Has the promise failed for all ages?
10 Has God forgotten mercy, in anger withheld compassion?" Selah
11 I conclude: "My sorrow is this, the right hand of the Most High has left us."
12 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
13 I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
14 Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
15 You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
16 With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
17 The waters saw you, God; the waters saw you and lashed about, trembled even to their depths.
18 The clouds poured down their rains; the thunderheads rumbled; your arrows flashed back and forth.
19 The thunder of your chariot wheels resounded; your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
20 Through the sea was your path; your way, through the mighty waters, though your footsteps were unseen.
21 You led your people like a flock under the care of Moses and Aaron.
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.