« | Job 22 | » |
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you, and enters into judgment with you?
5 Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.
6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man dwelt in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden terror overwhelms you;
11 your light is darkened, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 "Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Therefore you say, `What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
14 Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.'
15 Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod?
16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.
17 They said to God, `Depart from us,' and `What can the Almighty do to us?'
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things -- but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent laugh them to scorn,
20 saying, `Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.'
21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty and humble yourself, if you remove unrighteousness far from your tents,
24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent bed,
25 and if the Almighty is your gold, and your precious silver;
26 then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; and you will pay your vows.
28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.
29 For God abases the proud, but he saves the lowly.
30 He delivers the innocent man; you will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
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).