« | Job 21 | » |
1 Then Job answered:
2 "Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around.
12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14 They say to God, 'Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
16 Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.
17 "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains in his anger?
18 How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let it be paid back to them, so that they may know it.
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?
23 One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,
24 his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 "Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony,
30 that the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?
32 When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.
34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1989 by the National Council of Churches. It was developed as an update to the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of 1952, with the goal of incorporating the latest biblical scholarship and addressing changes in the English language. The NRSV is renowned for its accuracy, literary quality, and ecumenical approach, making it a preferred choice for both academic study and liturgical use across various Christian denominations.
One of the primary features of the NRSV is its commitment to being a literal, or word-for-word, translation while also ensuring that the text is clear and comprehensible for modern readers. The translation team, which included scholars from diverse religious backgrounds, aimed to produce a text that faithfully represents the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This dedication to precision and clarity makes the NRSV an excellent resource for in-depth study and theological reflection, as it strives to convey the exact meaning of the original texts.
The NRSV is also notable for its inclusive language, which seeks to reflect the diversity of the contemporary Christian community. The translators took great care to avoid gender-specific language when the original texts did not explicitly require it, making the text more inclusive and accessible to all readers. This approach has been particularly appreciated in academic and liturgical settings, where sensitivity to gender and inclusivity are important considerations. The NRSV’s attention to inclusive language helps ensure that all readers can see themselves reflected in the biblical narrative.
Despite its many strengths, the NRSV has faced some criticism, particularly from those who prefer more traditional translations. Critics argue that the use of inclusive language can sometimes lead to interpretations that differ from the original intent of the texts. Additionally, some conservative scholars and readers feel that the NRSV’s ecumenical approach may result in compromises on certain theological nuances. Nonetheless, the New Revised Standard Version remains a highly valued translation, widely used in churches, seminaries, and universities for its scholarly rigor, literary excellence, and commitment to inclusivity.