« | Job 41 | » |
1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or [snare] his tongue with a line [which] you lower?
2 Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as [with] a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
6 Will [your] companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle -- Never do it again!
9 Indeed, [any] hope of [overcoming] him is false; Shall [one not] be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one [is so] fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay [him?] Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 "I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach [him] with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face, [With] his terrible teeth all around?
15 [His] rows of scales are [his] pride, Shut up tightly [as with] a seal;
16 One is so near another That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As [from] a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower [millstone.]
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves.
26 [Though] the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw, [And] bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides [are] like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed [marks] in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; [One] would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high [thing;] He [is] king over all the children of pride."
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.