« | Job 41 | » |
1 "Can you pull the crocodile out with a fish-hook? Can you tie his tongue down with a rope?
2 Can you put a rope in his nose, or put a hook through his jaw?
3 Will he beg you to be good to him? Will he speak soft words to you?
4 Will he make an agreement with you to take him and make him your servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as if he were a bird? Or will you put him on a rope for your young women?
6 Will traders talk about buying and selling him? Will they divide him among the storekeepers?
7 Can you fill his skin or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay your hand on him, and remember the battle. You will not do it again!
9 See, the hope of man is false. One is laid low even when seeing him.
10 No one is so powerful that he would wake him. Who then can stand before Me?
11 Who has given Me everything, that I should pay him back? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
12 "I will not keep quiet about his legs, or his powerful strength, or the good way he is made.
13 Who can take off his outside clothing? Who can get through his hard skin?
14 Who can open the doors of his mouth? Around his teeth is much fear.
15 His hard covering is his pride. He is shut up as with a lock.
16 One piece of his hard skin is so close to another that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another. They hold on to each other and cannot be separated.
18 His breath gives out light. And his eyes are like those of the first light of day.
19 Burning light goes out of his mouth. Fire comes out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning grass.
21 His breath sets fire to coals. A fire goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength is in his neck, and fear jumps in front of him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together. They are set in place and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as a stone, even as hard as a grinding-stone.
25 When he raises himself up, the powerful are afraid. They are troubled because of his noise.
26 The sword that hits him cannot cut. And spears are of no use.
27 He thinks of iron as straw, and brass as soft wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him run away. Stones thrown at him are like dry grass to him.
29 He thinks of heavy sticks as dry grass. He laughs at the noise of the spear.
30 The parts under him are like sharp pieces of a pot. He spreads out like a grain crusher on the mud.
31 He makes the sea boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a jar of oil.
32 He makes his way shine behind him. One would think that the sea has white hair.
33 Nothing on earth is like him, one made without fear.
34 He looks on everything that is high. He is king over all that are proud."
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.