Featured The NIV In Comparison to the ESV. Part 3

Continuing with Job

32:13
ESV : God may vanquish him, not a man
NIV : let God, not a man, refute him

33:7
ESV : my pressure will not be heavy upon you
NIV : nor should my hand be heavy on

33:10
ESV : he finds occasions against me
NIV : God has found fault with me

33:25
ESV : let his flesh become fresh with youth
NIV : let their flesh be renewed like a child's
[The ESV wording would make someone tongue-tied

33:30
ESV : that he might be lighted with the light of life
NIV : that the light of life may shine on them

 

The title of this forum is "Comparing and Contrasting Bible Versions and Translations." I think I have done more of that in this forum than anyone else. The ESV has a great deal of awkward and unnatural English. In contrast the NIV is plainer. It's not a matter of the ESV being more faithful to the originals because its English is contorted, it's just that the revisers did not do a thorough job. The ESV needs some competent English stylists. Currently, it's like going through the underbrush. Many passages could be rendered in straightforward English. The same thing applies to the NKJV. The NASB is a bit better.

 

Job

34:12
ESV : Of a truth, God will not do wickedly
NIV : It is unthinkable that God would do wrong

34:36
ESV : Would that Job were tried to the end
NIV : Oh, that Job might be tested to the upmost

35:8
ESV : Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
and your righteousness a son of man.
NIV : Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,
and your righteousness only other people.

35:9
ESV : they call for help because of the arm of the mighty
NIV : they plead for relief rom the arm of the powerful

 

Job

36:16
ESV : what was set on your table was full of fatness
NIV : the comfort of your table laden with choice food

36:18
ESV : let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside
NIV : do not let a large bribe turn you aside

36:20
ESV : when peoples vanish in their place
NIV : to drag people away from their homes

36:26
ESV : God is great and we know him not
NIV : How great is God --beyond our understanding

36:33
ESV : the cattle also declare that he rises
NIV : even the cattle make known its approach

 

One element should not be sacrificed for the other. It's a balancing act. But if a translation has too much biblish in it, readability is compromised. The meaning should be transferred as much as possible; the form is secondary.

 

How do you define conservative? Does the NIV use more inclusive language than the ESV? Yes. Does that alone mean that the ESV is more conservative than the NIV? No.

The ESV fails with respect to readability as I have demonstrated on a plethora of threads. When it comes to accuracy opinions may vary, but I think the NIV stands up well to scrutiny on that matter.

ALERT: Please refrain from using exclamation marks. It's tiresome. I have told you numerous times, and so have others. Follow the advice.

 

Job

37:16
ESV : Do you know the balancing of the clouds
NIV : Do you know how the clouds hang poised

37:17
ESV : you whose garments are hot
NIV : You who swelter in your clothes

38:9
ESV : thick darkness its swaddling band
NIV : wrapped it in thick darkness

38:33
ESV : Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
NIV Do you know the laws of the heavens?

38:38
ESV : when the dust runs into a mass
NIV : when the dust becomes hard

39:5
ESV : Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey
NIV : Who untied its ropes?

39:7
ESV : he hears not the shouts of the driver
NIV : it does not hear the driver's shout

 

Concluding Job :

40:8
ESV :Will you even put me in the wrong?
NIV : Would you discredit my justice?

40:19
ESV : the first of the works of God
NIV : It ranks first among the works of God

41:9
ESV : the hope of a man is false
NIV : Any hope of subduing it is false

41:33
ESV : On earth there is not his like
NIV : Nothing on earth is his equal

 

Proverbs

1:3
ESV : in wise dealing
NIV : in prudent behavior

1:14
ESV : we will all have one purse
NIV : we will all share the loot

1:32
ESV : For the simple are killed by their turning away
NIV : For the waywardness of the simple will kill them

2:8
ESV : guarding the paths of justice
NIV : for he guards the course of the just

3:7
ESV : Be not wise
NIV : Do not be wise

3:8
ESV : It will be healing to your flesh
NIV : This will be health to your body

 

Note: Remember, I am usually dealing with just a phrase or clause of a verse, if that.

Chapter
vs. 22
ESV : healing to all their flesh
NIV : health to one's whole body

vs. 24
ESV : Put away from you crooked speech
NIV : Keep your mouth free of perversity

vs. 26
ESV : all your ways will be sure
NIV : be steadfast in all your ways

Chapter 6
vs. 20
ESV : forsake not
NIV : do not forsake

Chapter 7
vs. 25
ESV : Let not your heart
NIV : Do not let your heart

 

I agree.

 

Proverbs

8:27
ESV : when he drew a circle
NIV : when he marked out the horizon

9:2
ESV : She has slaughtered her beasts
NIV : She has prepared her meat

11:25
ESV : one who waters will himself will be watered
NIV : whoever refreshes others will be refreshed

12:12
ESV : Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers
NIV : The wicked desire he stronghold of evildoers

12:14
ESV : the work of a man's hand comes back to him
NIV : the work of their hands brings them reward

12:28
ESV : in its pathway there is no death
NIV : along that path is immortality