The NIV In Comparison to the ESV. Part 3

[Deacon]

James 1:14

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [NIV]

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [ESV]
[snip]
Also note that ESV removes 'evil' as a descriptor for desire.

“evil desire” and “desire” are both translated from the same Greek word, epithymias (sounds like an organ of the body)
From BDAG, epithymias can be translated as a neutral term (ESV) but it also can indicate forbidden or inordinate desires (lust) with its negative (evil) connotations (NIV).
Neither is wrong, it’s simply a choice of the translators based upon context.
The NIV then translates the same word simply as desires in the next verse.

I like the simplicity of the ESV in this passage.

Rob

 

[Rippon2]

REB : "Temptation comes when anyone is lured and dragged away by his own desires."
NLT : "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away."

 

[Rippon2]

Proverbs 13
v. 5
ESV : The righteous hates falsehood
NIV : The righteous hate what is false
[It is speaking of a group, not a singular person. So it should be 'hate' not 'hates.' The ESV does this continually.]

v.10
ESV : By insolence comes nothing but strife
NIV : Where there is strife, there is pride

v. 25
ESV : the belly of the wicked suffers want
NIV : the stomach of the wicked goes hungry

Chapter 14
v. 16
ESV : a fool is reckless and careless
NIV : a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure

v. 20
ESV : The poor is disliked even by his neighbor
NIV : The poor are shunned even by their neighbors
[See my comments for 13:5. The NIV grammar is superior to that of the ESV.]

v. 28
ESV : In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
NIV : A population is a king's glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.

v.32
ESV : The wicked is overthrown
NIV : the wicked are brought down

v. 35
ESV : A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor
NIV : A king delights in a wise servant

 

[Rippon2]

Proverbs 15

v.6
ESV : there is much treasure
NIV : contains great treasure

v.11
ESV : the hearts of the children of man
NIV : human hearts

v. 18
ESV : A hot-tempered man
NIV : A hot-tempered person

v.21
ESV : a man of understanding
NIV : whoever has understanding

Chapter 16

v.2
ESV : the Lord weighs the spirit
NIV : motives are weighed by the Lord

v.14
ESV : a wise man
NIV : the wise

v. 20
ESV : Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good
NIV : Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers

v.21
ESV : The wise of heart is called discerning
NIV : The hearts of the wise are called discerning

v.22
ESV : Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it
NIV : Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent

v. 28
ESV : A man of violence
NIV : A violent person

 

[Rippon2]

Chapter 17

v.20
ESV : A man of crooked heart does not discover good
NIV : One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper

v.21
ESV : He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow
NIV : To have a fool for a child brings grief

v.23
ESV : The wicked accepts a bribe
NIV : The wicked accept bribes

v.27
ESV : he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding
NIV : whoever has understanding is even-tempered

 

[Rippon2]

Chapter 18

v.8
ESV : The words of a whisperer
NIV " The words of a gossip

v.14
ESV : A man's spirit will endure sickness
NIV : The human spirit can endure in sickness

v. 20
ESV : From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied
NIV : From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled

v. 24
ESV : A man of many companions may come to ruin
NIV : One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin

 

[Rippon2]

Chapter 19

v.6
ESV : Many seek the favor of the a generous man
NIV : Many curry favor with a ruler

v.8
ESV : Whoever gets sense loves his own soul
NIV : The one who gets wisdom loves life

v. 11
ESV : Good sense makes one slow to anger
NIV : A person's wisdom yields patience

v. 29
ESV : Condemnation is ready for scoffers
NIV : Penalties are prepared for mockers

 

[alexander284]

You know, when it comes to the Book of Proverbs, I actually prefer the ESV.

On the other hand, I can definitely see where the NIV may be preferable in the Book of Job.

Overall, I prefer the ESV (especially for the New Testament), but often find myself utilizing the NIV for comparison purposes (especially for the Old Testament).

Bottom line: your specific examples have helped me to appreciate the value of comparing and contrasting various Bible translations.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to post these specific passages, and I encourage you to continue to do so.

 

[Rippon2]

Continuing with Job

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

The NET Note supports 'refute.'

 

[Rippon2]

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.

The NET text reads :
Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness
only other people.

This is another case in which the term 'son of man' is an antiquated term for people
in contexts such as these.

 

[InTheLight]

Chapter 18

v. 24
ESV : A man of many companions may come to ruin
NIV : One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin

This one is intriguing because they are saying two different things. The NIV qualifies the friends as being "unreliable". The ESV qualifies them as being "many".

 

[Rippon2]

Job

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

Really now, surely we can all agree that a 'modern' version should eliminate old-fashioned expressions such as "full of fatness.'

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

The NET reads identically as the NIV.

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

The NET reads the same as the NIV here.

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

The NET reads : "Yes, God is great --beyond our knowledge!"

The phrase "we know him not" has not been normal English for more than a century.
There are still several places in the NIV that have that kind of wording, but hopefully will be pruned in the next revision.

 

[Rippon2]

This one is intriguing because they are saying two different things. The NIV qualifies the friends as being "unreliable". The ESV qualifies them as being "many".

This is from Proverbs 18:24. In the NET Notes a source cited says "there are friends who are unreliable." But then disagrees with that rendering.

 

[Rippon2]

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

The NN [NET Note] says "So the noun developed the sense of 'hard' as in cast metal.

39:5
ESV : Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey
NIV : Who untied its ropes?
Wow! "loosed the bonds of the swift donkey" is really awkward. Out west I bet they don't talk like that.

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

"He hears not" is NOT current English.

 

[Rippon2]

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

The NET text has : "Would you indeed annul my justice?"
[/quote]
40:19
ESV : the first of the works of God
NIV : It ranks first among the works of God
[/quote]
The NET text is identical with the NIV.

 

[Rippon2]

Proverbs

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

Come on now. The NIV has the better rendering.

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

"One purse" may be a quite accurate equivalent of the Hebrew. But the English is quirky. It means,
as the NN say "the thieves promised to share equally in what they had stolen."

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

I like the NLT wording : "He guards the paths of the just." It's kind of a combo of the ESV and NIV.

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

Let not that kind of phraseology be said in a 'modern' English translation, even the NIV needs to be weeded of these things sometimes.
[/quote]

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

In these contexts the word 'body' is much better than 'flesh.'

 

[Rippon2]

Snippets from Proverbs 20

v. 3
ESV : It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife
NIV : It's to one's honor to avoid strife

v. 6
ESV : Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love
NIV : Many claim to have unfailing love

v. 7
ESV: The righteous who walks in his integrity
NIV : The righteous lead blameless lives

v. 13
ESV : Love not sleep
NIV : Do not love sleep

v. 19
ESV : therefore do not associate with a simple babbler
NIV : so avoid anyone who talks too much

v. 24
ESV : A man's steps are from the Lord
NIV : A person's steps are from the Lord

v. 27
ESV : The spirit of man
NIV : The human spirit

 

[Rippon2]

Proverbs 21

v.4
ESV : the lamp of the wicked are sin.
NIV : the unplowed field of the field of the wicked --- produce sin.

v. 18
ESV : The wicked is a ransom
NIV : The wicked become a ransom for the righteous

v.26
ESV : the righteous gives and does not hold back
NIV : the righteous give without sparing

v. 29
ESV : the upright gives thought to his ways
NIV : the upright give thought to their ways

 

[alexander284]

When reading these Old Testament passages from the ESV, I feel as if I'm still reading the RSV.

I can certainly see why you're advocating that the translators for the ESV take another pass at the Old Testament.

 

[Rippon2]

Proverbs 22

v. 9
ESV : Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed
NIV : The generous will themselves be blessed

v. 22
ESV : Do not rob the poor, because he is poor
NIV : Do not exploit the poor because they are poor

v. 26
ESV : Be not one
NIV : Do not be one

Proverbs 23

v. 6
ESV : Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy
NIV : Do not eat the food of a begrudging host

v.17
ESV : Let not your heart
NIV : Do not let your heart

v. 20
ESV : Be not
NIV : Do not

v.30
ESV : Those who tarry long over wine
NIV : Those who linger over wine

v. 34
ESV : lies down in the midst of the sea
NIV : sleeping on the high seas