« | Psalm 9 | » |
1 For the leader; according to Muth Labben. A psalm of David.
2 I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
3 I will delight and rejoice in you; I will sing hymns to your name, Most High.
4 For my enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.
5 You upheld my right and my cause, seated on your throne, judging justly.
6 You rebuked the nations, you destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out for all time
7 The enemies have been ruined forever; you destroyed their cities; their memory has perished.
8 The LORD rules forever, has set up a throne for judgment.
9 It is God who governs the world with justice, who judges the peoples with fairness.
10 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, stronghold in times of trouble.
11 Those who honor your name trust in you; you never forsake those who seek you, LORD.
12 Sing hymns to the LORD enthroned on Zion; proclaim God's deeds among the nations!
13 For the avenger of bloodshed remembers, does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
14 Have mercy on me, LORD; see how my foes afflict me! You alone can raise me from the gates of death.
15 Then I will declare all your praises, sing joyously of your salvation in the gates of daughter Zion.
16 The nations fall into the pit they dig; in the snare they hide, their own foot is caught.
17 The LORD is revealed in this divine rule: by the deeds they do the wicked are trapped. Higgaion. Selah
18 To Sheol the wicked will depart, all the nations that forget God.
19 The needy will never be forgotten, nor will the hope of the afflicted ever fade.
20 Arise, LORD, let no mortal prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence.
21 Strike them with terror, LORD; show the nations they are mere mortals. Selah
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.