« | Deuteronomy 10 | » |
1 At that time Jehovah said to me: Cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me into the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were in the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.
3 And I made an ark of acacia-wood, and cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and went up into the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand.
4 And He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments which Jehovah spoke to you in the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And Jehovah gave them to me.
5 And I turned myself and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made. And there they are, as Jehovah commanded me.
6 And the sons of Israel pulled up stakes from Beeroth of the sons of Jaakan to Mosera. There Aaron died, and there he was buried. And Eleazar his son served in the priest's office in his place.
7 From there they pulled up stakes to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of water brooks.
8 At that time Jehovah separated the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister to Him, and to bless in His name, until today.
9 Therefore Levi has no part nor inheritance with his brothers. Jehovah is his inheritance, according as Jehovah your God promised him.
10 And I stayed in the mountain, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights. And Jehovah listened to me at that time also. Jehovah would not destroy you.
11 And Jehovah said to me, Arise, Go before the people, causing them to go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.
12 And now, Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you, but to fear Jehovah your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and His statutes, which I command you today for your good?
14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to Jehovah your God, the earth also, with all in it.
15 Only Jehovah had a delight in your fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, you above all people, as it is today.
16 Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stiff-necked.
17 For Jehovah your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, the mighty, and a terrible God, who does not respect persons nor take a bribe.
18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger in giving him food and clothing.
19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
20 You shall fear Jehovah your God. You shall serve Him, and you shall hold fast to Him, and swear by His name.
21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrible things which your eyes have seen.
22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons. And now Jehovah your God has made you as the stars of the heavens for multitude.
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.