« | 1 Kings 17 | » |
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of the people who were staying in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, for sure there will be no rain or water on the grass in the early morning these years, except by my word."
2 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
3 "Leave here and turn east. Hide yourself by the river Cherith, east of the Jordan.
4 You will drink from the river. And I have told the ravens to bring food to you there."
5 So he went and did what he was told by the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the river Cherith, east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. And he drank from the river.
7 But after a while, the river dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
9 "Get up and go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. I have told a woman there, whose husband has died, to feed you."
10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he came to the city gate, he saw a woman there gathering sticks. He called to her and said, "I ask of you, get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink."
11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, "I ask of you, bring me a piece of bread in your hand."
12 But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread. I only have enough flour in the jar to fill a hand, and a little oil in the jar. See, I am gathering a few sticks so I may go in and make it ready for me and my son. Then we will eat it and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Have no fear. Go and do as you have said. But make me a little loaf of bread from it first, and bring it out to me. Then you may make one for yourself and for your son.
14 For the Lord God of Israel says, 'The jar of flour will not be used up. And the jar of oil will not be empty, until the day the Lord sends rain upon the earth.' "
15 So she went and did what Elijah said. And she and he and those of her house ate for many days.
16 The jar of flour was not used up, and the jar of oil did not become empty. It happened as was spoken by the word of the Lord through Elijah.
17 After this the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. His sickness was so bad that there was no breath left in him.
18 So the woman said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to have my sin be remembered, and to kill my son!"
19 He said to her, "Give me your son." Then he took him from her arms and carried him up to the room on the second floor where he stayed. And he laid him on his own bed.
20 He called to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You brought trouble to the woman I am staying with, by making her son die?"
21 Then he lay upon the child three times and called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord my God, I pray to You. Let this child's life return to him."
22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child returned to him and he became strong again.
23 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the second floor into the house and gave him to his mother. He said, "See, your son is alive."
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God. Now I know that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.