« | Job 3 | » |
1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his [birth.]
2 And Job spoke, and said:
3 "May the day perish on which I was born, And the night [in which] it was said, 'A male child is conceived.'
4 May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 [As for] that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but [have] none, And not see the dawning of the day;
10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my [mother's] womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 "Why did I not die at birth? [Why] did I [not] perish when I came from the womb?
12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest
14 With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves,
15 Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses [with] silver;
16 Or [why] was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?
17 There the wicked cease [from] troubling, And there the weary are at rest.
18 [There] the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there, And the servant [is] free from his master.
20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who long for death, but it does not [come,] And search for it more than hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice exceedingly, [And] are glad when they can find the grave?
23 [Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water.
25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes."
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.