« | Amos 3 | » |
1 O people of Israel, hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you and against the whole family which He brought up from the land of Egypt.
2 "You are the only ones I have chosen among all the families of the earth. So I must punish you for all your sins."
3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an agreement?
4 Does a lion make noise among the trees when he has no food? Does a young lion cry out from his home if he has not caught anything?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no food to tempt it? Does a trap jump up from the ground when it does not catch anything?
6 Are not the people afraid when a horn is blown in a city? When trouble comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
7 For sure the Lord does not do anything without making His plan known to His servants who speak for Him.
8 The lion has made a noise! Who will not be afraid? The Lord God has spoken! Who can keep from speaking His Word?
9 Say to the people who live in the strong cities of Ashdod and Egypt, "Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. See all the trouble within her and how her people suffer.
10 They do not know how to do what is right," says the Lord. "They store up in their strong cities what they have fought for and robbed."
11 So the Lord God says, "Those who hate you will gather around the land. They will pull down your strong-places and rob your strong cities."
12 The Lord says, "As the shepherd saves from the lion's mouth just two legs or a piece of an ear, so will the people of Israel living in Samaria be saved, with the corner of a bed and a part of a cover.
13 Hear and speak against the family of Jacob," says the Lord God, the God of All.
14 "On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will punish the altars of Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 I will destroy the winter house together with the summer house. The houses of ivory will be destroyed, and the beautiful houses will come to an end," says the Lord.
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.