Featured NIV vs. ESV, Part 2

O....K....A....Y.

 

Both would be giving to us the gist of what God meant!

 

I can visualize a promo for a Bible translation based on your post : "This fine version will give you the very gist of what God is saying."

 

Jeremiah 31:21
NIV : take note of the highway
ESV : consider well the highway

NIV : return to your towns
ESV : return to these your cities


Isaiah 57:2
NIV : they find rest as they lie in death
ESV : they rest in their beds
CEB : burial beds
NCV : find rest in death

Isaiah 38:15
NIV : I will walk humbly all my years
ESV : I will walk slowly all my years
NCV : I will be humble all my life
CJB : I will go humbly all my life

 

You are right!!!

 

yes, and would be called the "Holy Ghost Agenda Bible"

 

From the book of Nehemiah :

5:5
ESV : our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers
NIV : we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews

5:7
ESV : I took counsel with myself
NIV : I pondered them in my mind

5:9
ESV : Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God
NIV : Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God

6:7
ESV : let us take counsel together
IV : let us meet together

8:12
ESV : make great rejoicing
NIV : celebrate with great joy

8:15
ESV : publish it in all their towns
NIV : proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns

9:30
ESV : they would not give ear
NIV : they paid no attention

13:6
ESV : I asked leave of the king
NIV : I asked his permssion

 

Esther

1:8
ESV : And drinking was according to this edict: 'There is no compulsion.'
NIV : By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions

2:10
ESV : Esther had not made known her people
NIV : Esther had not revealed her nationality

3:4
ESV : to see whether Mordecai's words would stand
NIV : to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated

7:7
ESV : harm was determined against him by the king
NIV : the king had already decided his fate

8:16
ESV : The Jews had light and gladness
NIV : For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy

 

And the ESV is more correct in this matter. There is no need in the context to change it to no restrictions because the second half of the verse clarifies.

 

Again, read the rest of the verse.

 

But what does the actual Hebrew say?

 

From the book of Job :

1:5
ESV: Thus Job did continually.
NIV : This was Job's regular custom.

1:18
ESV : While he was yet speaking
NIV : While he was still speaking

2:10
ESV : In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
NIV : In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

3:13
ESV : For then I would have lain down
NIV : For now I would be lying down

3:18
ESV : they hear not the voice of the taskmaster
NIV : they no longer hear the slave driver's shout

4:7
ESV : Remember: who that was innocent ever perished?
NIV : Consider now : Who, being innocent, has ever perished?

6:7
ESV : they are as food that is loathsome to me.
NIV : such food makes me ill

7:20
ESV : watcher of mankind
NIV : you who sees everything we do

8:2
ESV : the words of your mouth be a great wind
NIV : Your words are a blustering wind

8:9
ESV : For we are but of yesterday
NIV : for we were born only yesterday

 

Job

9:2
ESV : Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?
NIV : Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?

9:2
ESV : The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges
NIV : When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges

10:18
ESV : Would that I had died before any eye had seen me.
NIV : I wish I had died before any eye saw me.

13:15
ESV : I will argue my ways to his face
NIV : I will surely defend my ways to his face.

 

I guess here is my problem with this entire thread. You are comparing two translations that have very different translation philosophies. You say the NIV beats the ESV and you like their "take on it better." Here's the problem I have on that. If I wanted someone's take, I would buy a commentary. I don't want a commentary. I want as close to the original as it can be. Does that mean we have to work out some sayings and cultural ideas? YES! But I also believe it was written that way for a reason.