« | Job 28 | » |
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place [where] gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, And copper [is] smelted [from] ore.
3 [Man] puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people; [In places] forgotten by feet They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.
5 [As for] the earth, from it comes bread, But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones [are] the source of sapphires, And it contains gold dust.
7 [That] path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon's eye seen it.
8 The proud lions have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling; [What is] hidden he brings forth to light.
12 " But where can wisdom be found? And where [is] the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, '[It is] not in me'; And the sea says, '[It is] not with me.'
15 It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed [for] its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom [is] above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 "From where then does wisdom come? And where [is] the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.'
23 God understands its way, And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, [And] sees under the whole heavens,
25 To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw [wisdom] and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to depart from evil [is] understanding.' "
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.