« | 2 Chronicles 8 | » |
1 It took Solomon twenty years to build the house of the Lord and his own house. At the end of that time,
2 he built again the cities which Huram had given to him. And he had the people of Israel live in them.
3 Then Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and took it.
4 He built Tadmor in the desert and all his store-cities in Hamath.
5 He built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon. He made the city strong with walls, gates, and long pieces of iron.
6 Solomon built Baalath and all the store-cities he had. He built all the cities for his war-wagons, and the cities for his horsemen. He built whatever he wanted to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.
7 There were people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel.
8 They were the children of those who were left in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed. Solomon made all of these people do hard work, as they do to this day.
9 But he did not make the people of Israel do hard work. They were soldiers, leaders, captains of war-wagons, and his horsemen.
10 These were the head leaders of King Solomon. There were 250 who ruled over the people.
11 Then Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the city of David to the house he had built for her. For he said, "My wife should not live in the house of David king of Israel. Because the places are holy where the special box of the Lord has come."
12 Then Solomon gave burnt gifts to the Lord on the Lord's altar which he had built in front of the porch.
13 He gave a certain number of gifts every day, as Moses had said should be given. Gifts were given for the Days of Rest, the new moons, and the three special suppers each year. These special suppers were the Special Supper of Bread Without Yeast, the Special Supper of Weeks, and the Special Supper of Tents.
14 By the law of David his father, Solomon chose the religious leaders for their different duties. He chose the Levites for their duties of praise and helping the religious leaders for each day's needs. And he chose who should be the gate-keepers at each gate. For David the man of God had said that this must be done.
15 They did all that the king had said the religious leaders and Levites must do in every duty and with the store-houses.
16 So all the work of Solomon was done, from the day the house of the Lord was begun until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was built.
17 Then Solomon went to Eziongeber and Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom.
18 Huram sent his servants to him with ships and servants who knew the sea. They went to Ophir together with Solomon's servants to get gold. And they brought gold weighing as much as 450 men from there to King Solomon.
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.