« | 2 Kings 12 | » |
1 And in the seventh year of Jehu, Joash began to reign. And he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
2 And Joash did the right in the sight of Jehovah all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
4 And Joash said to the priests, All the silver from things dedicated to God, which is brought into the house of Jehovah, the silver from each man the silver of his valuation, all the silver that comes into any man's heart to bring to the house of Jehovah,
5 let the priests take it to themselves, each man from those he knows. And let them repair the breaks in the house, in all places where any break shall be found.
6 And it happened in the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the breaks of the house.
7 Then King Joash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the priests, and said to them, Why are you not repairing the breaks of the house? And now take no silver from those you know, but deliver it for the breaks of the house.
8 And the priests agreed to take no silver from the people, nor to repair the breaks of the house.
9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. And he set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Jehovah. And the priests who kept the door put in it all the silver brought into the house of Jehovah.
10 And it happened when they saw that much silver was in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest came up. And they bound and counted the silver that was found in the house of Jehovah.
11 And they gave the silver which was counted into the hands of those who did the work, those overseeing the house of Jehovah. And they laid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of Jehovah,
12 and to masons and cutters of stone, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the breaks of the house of Jehovah, and for all that went forth for the house, to repair it.
13 Only, there were no bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or any vessels of gold or vessels of silver, made for the house of Jehovah from the silver which was brought into the house of Jehovah.
14 For they gave it to the workmen, and repaired the house of Jehovah with it.
15 And they did not make an accounting with the men into whose hands they gave the silver to be given to the workmen. For they dealt faithfully.
16 The trespass silver and sin silver was not brought into the house of Jehovah. It was the priests'.
17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it. And Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18 And Joash king of Judah took all the holy things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria. And he went away from Jerusalem.
19 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Matters of the Days of the Kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose and made a plot. And they killed Joash in the house of Millo, which goes down to Silla.
21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
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.