« | Zechariah 2 | » |
1 I raised my eyes and looked; there were four horns.
2 Then I asked the angel who spoke with me what these were. He answered me, "These are the horns that scattered Judah and Israeland Jerusalem."
3 Then the LORD showed me four blacksmiths. And I asked, "What are these coming to do?"
4 And he said, "Here are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no man raised his head any more; but these have come to terrify them: to cast down the horns of the nations that raised their horns to scatter the land of Judah."
5 Again I raised my eyes and looked: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
6 "Where are you going?" I asked. "To measure Jerusalem," he answered; "to see how great is its width and how great its length."
7 Then the angel who spoke with me advanced, and another angel came out to meet him,
8 and said to him, "Run, tell this to that young man: People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country, because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
9 But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst."
10 Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I scatter you to the four winds of heaven, says the LORD.
11 Up, escape to Zion! you who dwell in daughter Babylon.
12 For thus said the LORD of hosts (after he had already sent me) concerning the nations that have plundered you: Whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye.
13 See, I wave my hand over them; they become plunder for their slaves. Thus you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
14 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
15 Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
16 The LORD will possess Judah as his portion of the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem.
17 Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD! for he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
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.