« | Job 8 | » |
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:
2 "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and reward you with a rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 "For inquire, I pray you, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have found;
9 for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their understanding?
11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless man shall perish.
14 His confidence breaks in sunder, and his trust is a spider's web.
15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He thrives before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots twine about the stoneheap; he lives among the rocks.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, `I have never seen you.'
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way; and out of the earth others will spring.
20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
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).