« | Job 39 | » |
1 "Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? [Or] can you mark when the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months [that] they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down, They bring forth their young, They deliver their offspring.
4 Their young ones are healthy, They grow strong with grain; They depart and do not return to them.
5 "Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains [is] his pasture, And he searches after every green thing.
9 "Will the wild ox be willing to serve you? Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength [is] great? Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your grain, And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, But are her wings and pinions [like the] kindly stork's?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground, And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them, Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as though [they were] not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom, And did not endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 "Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in [his] strength; He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet [has] sounded.
25 At the [blast of] the trumpet he says, 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, [And] spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, And make its nest on high?
28 On the rocks it dwells and resides, On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain [are,] there it [is."]
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.