« | Job 30 | » |
1 "But now they make sport of me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 What could I gain from the strength of their hands, men whose vigor is gone?
3 Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry and desolate ground;
4 they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, and to warm themselves the roots of the broom.
5 They are driven out from among men; they shout after them as after a thief.
6 In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together.
8 A senseless, a disreputable brood, they have been whipped out of the land.
9 "And now I have become their song, I am a byword to them.
10 They abhor me, they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
11 Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.
12 On my right hand the rabble rise, they drive me forth, they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path, they promote my calamity; no one restrains them.
14 As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
15 Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.
16 "And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.
18 With violence it seizes my garment; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.
19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry to thee and thou dost not answer me; I stand, and thou dost not heed me.
21 Thou hast turned cruel to me; with the might of thy hand thou dost persecute me.
22 Thou liftest me up on the wind, thou makest me ride on it, and thou tossest me about in the roar of the storm.
23 Yea, I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24 "Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?
25 Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 But when I looked for good, evil came; and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My heart is in turmoil, and is never still; days of affliction come to meet me.
28 I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals, and a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.
31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.
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).