"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
~Joshua 1:7-9~
This familiar exhortation is worded just a little differently in a couple of translations, or at least the punctuation structured it with just a slight difference, and when I noticed it, I had to stop and think. The way we read the NIV (above), it can sound like a couple of separate encouragements - Be strong and brave. And also obey the law. But look at how these translations construct it:
"Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Christian Standard Bible)
"Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. Haven't I ordered you, 'Be strong, be bold'? So don't be afraid or downhearted, because ADONAI your God is with you wherever you go." (Complete Jewish Bible)
Be strong and bold in obeying the Law. Sometimes it takes great courage and boldness just to live in obedience to God's Word. And this is an instruction and encouragement to all of us, not just to an Old Testament hero, or to hugely influential leaders of nations or multitudes. Everyone who follows Jesus should take the bold and courageous stand of obeying everything God tells us, which we can do only if we study and meditate on the Word and know what it tells us. And we can be assured that God is with us wherever we go.
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What a neat discovery. It does take courage to obey the Lord in such a society as we have these days.
ReplyDeleteLate with my response but really appreciate your insights on the different translations!
ReplyDeleteKym, Thank You for sharing Scripture & A Snapshot with Sweet Tea & Friend's July link-up dear friend.
ReplyDelete