« | 2 Kings 2 | » |
1 And it happened when Jehovah was to take Elijah up into Heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said to Elisha, Please stay here, for Jehovah has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said, As Jehovah lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
3 And the sons of the prophets at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that Jehovah will take away your master from your head today? And he said, Yes, I know. Keep silent.
4 And Elijah said to him, Elisha, please stay here. For Jehovah has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.
5 And the sons of the prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, Do you know that Jehovah will take your master away from your head today? And he answered, Yes, I know. Keep silent.
6 And Elijah said to him, Please stay here, for Jehovah has sent me to Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went on and stood afar off across from them. And both of them stood by the Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the waters. And they were divided here and there, so that both of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And it happened when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha. Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you. And Elisha said, please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, You have asked a hard thing, but if you see me taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be.
11 And it happened as they went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire came, and they separated between them both. And Elijah went up in a tempest into Heaven.
12 And Elisha saw, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah which had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan.
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah, even He? And he also hit the waters, and they parted here and there. And Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets across in Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha! And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
16 And they said to him, Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send.
17 And they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. And they sent fifty men. And they looked for three days, but did not find him.
18 And they returned to him, And he was staying in Jericho. And he said to them, Did I not say to you, Do not go?
19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, please, the location of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees. But the waters are bad, and the ground is barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new jar and put salt in it. And they brought to him.
21 And he went forth to the spring of the waters and threw the salt in there, and said, So says Jehovah, I have healed these waters. There shall not be any more death or barrenness from there.
22 And the waters were healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spoke.
23 And he went up from there to Bethel. And he was going up in the highway. And little boys came out from the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, bald head! Go up, bald head!
24 And he turned behind him and saw them, and declared them vile in the name of Jehovah. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two boys of them.
25 And he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
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.