« | Job 29 | » |
1 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 Oh, that I were as [in] months past, As [in] the days [when] God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone upon my head, [And when] by His light I walked [through] darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God [was] over my tent;
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [When] my children [were] around me;
6 When my steps were bathed with cream, And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 "When I went out to the gate by the city, [When] I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid, And the aged arose [and] stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking, And put [their] hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and [the one who] had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing [man] came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice [was] like a robe and a turban.
15 I [was] eyes to the blind, And I [was] feet to the lame.
16 I [was] a father to the poor, And I searched out the case [that] I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 "Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest, And multiply [my] days as the sand.
19 My root [is] spread out to the waters, And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory [is] fresh within me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.'
21 "[Men] listened to me and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again, And my speech settled on them [as dew.]
23 They waited for me [as] for the rain, And they opened their mouth wide [as] for the spring rain.
24 [If] I mocked at them, they did not believe [it,] And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one [who] comforts mourners.
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.