The Problem with Interpretation of Holy Scriptures
Who foresakes the fear of the Lord?
Job 6:14
‘Those who withhold* kindness from a friend
forsake the fear of the Almighty.*
I like that thought. We are all interconnected. One of our major purposes for our creation is to connect with one another, to show kindness to one another. But others translate this verse differently:
New International Version (©1984)
“A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
New Living Translation (©2007)
“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
English Standard Version (©2001)
“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
“A friend should treat a troubled person kindly, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
American King James Version
To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
American Standard Version
To him that is ready to faint kindness’should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
Darby Bible Translation
For him that is fainting kindness is meet from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
English Revised Version
To him that is ready to faint kindness should be shewed from his friend; even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Webster’s Bible Translation
To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
World English Bible
“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Young’s Literal Translation
To a despiser of his friends is shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
(These translations are compiled on the website Biblos)
To me, this is why we need the Holy Spirit, to help us discern what the words are intended to mean. The bad part is that we often choose the meaning which supports what we want to believe, we re-inforce our own distortions and misunderstandings with scriptures.
4 Comments »
Leave a reply to intlxpatr Cancel reply
Recent Comments
Catherine on Donna Leon Crossing Cultu… intlxpatr on Ignoring the Law thani on Ignoring the Law Anon. on British Soldier Kidnapped, Esc… Reeva Mills on Cahors to Bordeaux, Preparing… Wikipedia Donate Button
Amazina
Early Voting in Florida
Here There and Everywhere 
I stick to NIV , too many versions are confusing.
But Grey, you are a thinking person . . . wouldn’t you rather explore some of the variations? What intrigues me in this verse is the ambiguity as to who has foresaken the fear of the Almighty, the afflicted, or the friend? Thinking about these things is good exercise . . . but then again, you have a lot to think about these days already. Praying for you, too.
To be honest I haven’t explored other versions than NIV, but then I have stopped reading bible for a long time, (yep! i got addicted to Internet) these days I try to read but then it’s not the same zeal you see..
BTW NASB is said to be the most accurate bible versions.
I did not know that!
Our church has a tradition of daily readings. Not everyone does them, but I started about ten years ago. At first, it’s a discipline, then it becomes an addiction. I believe my life goes better because I do the daily readings. And – you can do it all online! There are Lectionary applications for computers, for iPads and for smart phones. YOU could manage that! 😀