« | Psalm 90 | » |
1 A prayer of Moses, the man of God. I Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God.
3 But humans you return to dust, saying, "Return, you mortals!"
4 A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday, Before a watch passes in the night,
5 you have brought them to their end; They disappear like sleep at dawn; they are like grass that dies.
6 It sprouts green in the morning; by evening it is dry and withered.
7 Truly we are consumed by your anger, filled with terror by your wrath.
8 You have kept our faults before you, our hidden sins exposed to your sight.
9 Our life ebbs away under your wrath; our years end like a sigh.
10 Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone.
11 Who comprehends your terrible anger? Your wrath matches the fear it inspires.
12 Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.
13 Relent, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
14 Fill us at daybreak with your love, that all our days we may sing for joy.
15 Make us glad as many days as you humbled us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 Show your deeds to your servants, your glory to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!
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.