« | Job 10 | » |
1 "I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why thou dost contend against me.
3 Does it seem good to thee to oppress, to despise the work of thy hands and favor the designs of the wicked?
4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? Dost thou see as man sees?
5 Are thy days as the days of man, or thy years as man's years,
6 that thou dost seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,
7 although thou knowest that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of thy hand?
8 Thy hands fashioned and made me; and now thou dost turn about and destroy me.
9 Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again?
10 Didst thou not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
11 Thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love; and thy care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this was thy purpose.
14 If I sin, thou dost mark me, and dost not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me! If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction.
16 And if I lift myself up, thou dost hunt me like a lion, and again work wonders against me;
17 thou dost renew thy witnesses against me, and increase thy vexation toward me; thou dost bring fresh hosts against me.
18 "Why didst thou bring me forth from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me,
19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not the days of my life few? Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort
21 before I go whence I shall not return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness,
22 the land of gloom and chaos, where light is as darkness."
The Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is a widely respected English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1952 by the National Council of Churches. It was developed as a revision of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, with the primary aim of providing a more accurate and readable text while retaining the literary qualities of its predecessor. The RSV sought to modernize the language of the ASV without sacrificing its faithfulness to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, making it a significant milestone in the history of English Bible translations.
One of the key features of the RSV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation approach. This method ensures that the translation closely mirrors the structure and wording of the original texts, allowing readers to engage more directly with the biblical languages. The translators of the RSV were guided by the latest biblical scholarship of their time, and they endeavored to produce a text that was both accurate and elegant. This combination of precision and literary quality has made the RSV a popular choice for both academic study and liturgical use.
The RSV also stands out for its ecumenical appeal. It was one of the first translations to be accepted across a wide range of Christian denominations, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. This broad acceptance was partly due to the inclusive approach of the translation committee, which included scholars from various religious backgrounds. The RSV’s ecumenical nature helped it gain widespread usage in churches, seminaries, and universities, fostering a greater sense of unity among different Christian communities.
Despite its many strengths, the RSV has faced some criticism over the years. Some conservative scholars and readers have expressed concerns about certain translation choices, arguing that they reflect modernist theological perspectives. Additionally, the RSV’s use of archaic language in certain passages has been a point of contention for those seeking a more contemporary rendering of the Bible. Nonetheless, the Revised Standard Version remains a highly respected and influential translation, valued for its accuracy, literary excellence, and broad ecumenical acceptance. It continues to serve as a foundation for later revisions and translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the English Standard Version (ESV).