« | 1 Samuel 8 | » |
1 And it happened when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 And the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second was Abiah, judges in Beer-sheba.
3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after ill gain and took bribes and perverted judgment.
4 And all the elders of Israel gathered themselves and came to Samuel to Ramah.
5 And they said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.
7 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, works with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods, so they do also to you.
9 And now listen to their voice. Only, you shall surely protest solemnly to them, and show them the kind of king who shall reign over them.
10 And Samuel told all the Words of Jehovah to the people who asked a king of him.
11 And he said, This will be the privilege of the king who shall reign over you. He shall take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and his horsemen. And they shall run before his chariots.
12 And he will appoint commanders over thousands, and commanders over fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and weapons for his chariots.
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your olive-yards, the best, and give them to his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
16 And he will take your male slaves and your slave girls, and your finest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants.
18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.
19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, No, but we will have a king over us.
20 And we shall be, also we, like all the nations, so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.
22 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Listen to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man go to his city.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.