« | Psalm 109 | » |
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful Have opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.
4 In return for my love they are my accusers, But I [give myself to] prayer.
5 Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
6 Set a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty, And let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few, [And] let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
10 Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; Let them seek [their bread] also from their desolate places.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off, [And] in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be continually before the LORD, That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, So let it enter his body like water, And like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him like the garment which covers him, And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.
20 [Let] this [be] the LORD's reward to my accusers, And to those who speak evil against my person.
21 But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal with me for Your name's sake; Because Your mercy [is] good, deliver me.
22 For I [am] poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting, And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
25 I also have become a reproach to them; [When] they look at me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
27 That they may know that this [is] Your hand -- [That] You, LORD, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, let them be ashamed, But let Your servant rejoice.
29 Let my accusers be clothed with shame, And let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save [him] from those who condemn him.
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.