« | 2 Samuel 7 | » |
1 And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him an inheritance on every side [free] from all his enemies round about him;
2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, Behold now, I live in a house of cedar, and the ark of the Lord dwells in the midst of a tent.
3 And Nathan said to the king, Go and do all that [is] in your heart, for the Lord [is] with you.
4 And it came to pass in that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
5 Go, and say to My servant David, Thus says the Lord, You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.
6 For I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt to this day, but I have been walking in a lodge and in a tent,
7 wheresoever I went with all Israel. Have I ever spoken to any of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to tend My people Israel, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of Cedar?
8 And now thus shall you say to My servant David: Thus says the Lord Almighty, I took you from the sheepfold, that you should be a prince over My people, over Israel.
9 And I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies before you, and I made you renowned according to the renown of the great ones on the earth.
10 And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell by themselves, and shall be distressed no longer; and the son of iniquity shall afflict them no longer, as he [has done] from the beginning,
11 from the days when I appointed judges over My people Israel: and I will give you rest from all your enemies, and the Lord declares to you, that He shall build you a house.
12 And it shall come to pass when your days have been fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, that I will raise up your seed after you, even from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build for Me a house for My name, and I will set up his throne, even forever.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son. And when he happens to transgress, then will I chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men.
15 But My mercy I will not take from him, as I took it from those whom I removed from My presence.
16 And his house shall be made sure, and his kingdom forever before Me, and his throne shall be established forever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
18 Then King David came in, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord, my Lord, and what [is] my house, that You have loved me [like] this?
19 Whereas I was very little before You, O Lord, my Lord, yet You spoke concerning the house of Your servant for a long time [to come]. And [is] this the law of man, O Lord, my Lord?
20 And what shall David yet say to You? And now You know Your servant, O Lord, my Lord.
21 And You have wrought for Your servant's sake, and according to Your heart You have brought about all this greatness, to make it known to Your servant,
22 that he may magnify You, O my Lord; for there is none like You, and there is no God but You among all of whom we have heard with our ears.
23 And what other nation in the earth [is] like Your people Israel? Whereas God was his guide, to redeem for Himself a people, to make for Himself a name, to do mightily and nobly, so that You should cast out nations and [their] tabernacles from the presence of Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself out of Egypt?
24 And You have prepared for Yourself Your people Israel, to be a people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.
25 And now, O my Lord, the Almighty Lord God of Israel, confirm the word forever which You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house: and now as You have said,
26 Let Your name be magnified forever.
27 Almighty Lord God of Israel, You have uncovered the ear of Your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore Your servant has found [in] his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28 And now, O Lord my Lord, You are God; and Your words will be true, and You have spoken these good things concerning Your servant.
29 And now begin and bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord, my Lord, have spoken, and the house of Your servant shall be blessed with Your blessing, so as to continue forever.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
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Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.