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Jeremiah 1:8 – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
Jeremiah 1:8 NASB “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:8 HCSB “Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
Jeremiah 1:8 ESV Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”
More so than any other OT book, in Jeremiah there is the powerful phrase, “declares the Lord.” The HCSB chooses to translate this, “This is the Lord’s Declaration.” To be honest, due to either the sound of the more prevalent translation, or just its familiarity, I do not like the HCSB translation. “Declares the Lord” has a powerful ring. When reading Jeremiah, “This is the Lord’s Declaration” seems to interrupt the flow of the text. Having said that, the HCSB is more accurate in translating “ne’ûm” as a noun because that is exactly the part of speech it is. However, “this is” is not part of the text. Therefore, if the HCSB really wanted to make a statement of literalness and bold, one which would have made the HCSB more acceptable to some, they should have simply translated it as “Yahweh’s Declaration.” Then maybe the times when it seems to interrupt, the power would overcome the loss of fluidity as a remember – “Yahweh’s Declaration.”
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