« | Psalm 83 | » |
1 O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God.
2 Don't you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don't you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?
3 They devise crafty schemes against your people; they conspire against your precious ones.
4 "Come," they say, "let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence."
5 Yes, this was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against you--
6 these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites;
7 Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre.
8 Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot. Interlude
9 Do to them as you did to the Midianites and as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
10 They were destroyed at Endor, and their decaying corpses fertilized the soil.
11 Let their mighty nobles die as Oreb and Zeeb did. Let all their princes die like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 for they said, "Let us seize for our own use these pasturelands of God!"
13 O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind!
14 As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,
15 chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest.
16 Utterly disgrace them until they submit to your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be ashamed and terrified forever. Let them die in disgrace.
18 Then they will learn that you alone are called the LORD, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth. For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.