« | Song of Solomon 5 | » |
1 G I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh and my spices, I eat my honey and my sweetmeats, I drink my wine and my milk. D Eat, friends; drink! Drink freely of love!
2 B I was sleeping, but my heart kept vigil; I heard my lover knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my beloved, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is wet with dew, my locks with the moisture of the night."
3 I have taken off my robe, am I then to put it on? I have bathed my feet, am I then to soil them?
4 My lover put his hand through the opening; my heart trembled within me, and I grew faint when he spoke.
5 I rose to open to my lover, with my hands dripping myrrh: With my fingers dripping choice myrrh upon the fittings of the lock.
6 I opened to my lover-- but my lover had departed, gone. I sought him but I did not find him; I called to him but he did not answer me.
7 The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city; They struck me, and wounded me, and took my mantle from me, the guardians of the walls.
8 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my lover-- What shall you tell him?-- that I am faint with love.
9 D How does your lover differ from any other, O most beautiful among women? How does your lover differ from any other, that you adjure us so?
10 B My lover is radiant and ruddy; he stands out among thousands.
11 His head is pure gold; his locks are palm fronds, black as the raven.
12 His eyes are like doves beside running waters, His teeth would seem bathed in milk, and are set like jewels.
13 His cheeks are like beds of spice with ripening aromatic herbs. His lips are red blossoms; they drip choice myrrh.
14 His arms are rods of gold adorned with chrysolites. His body is a work of ivory covered with sapphires.
15 His legs are columns of marble resting on golden bases. His stature is like the trees on Lebanon, imposing as the cedars.
16 His mouth is sweetness itself; he is all delight. Such is my lover, and such my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
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.