« | Deuteronomy 13 | » |
1 And if there arise within you a prophet, or one who dreams a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you know not;
3 you shall not hearken to the words of that prophet, or the dreamer of that dream, because the Lord your God is testing you, to see whether you love your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall follow the Lord your God, and fear Him, and you shall hear His voice, and attach yourselves to Him.
5 And that prophet or that dreamer of a dream shall die; for he has spoken to make you err from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, who redeemed you from bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the Lord your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you abolish the evil from among you.
6 And if your brother by your father or mother, or your son, or daughter, or your wife in your bosom, or friend who is equal to your own soul, entreat you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known,
7 of the gods of the nations that are round about you, who are near you or at a distance from you, from one end of the earth to the other;
8 you shall not consent to him, neither shall you hearken to him; and your eye shall not spare him, you shall feel no regret for him, neither shall you at all protect him:
9 you shall surely report concerning him, and your hands shall be upon him among the first to slay him, and the hands of all the people at the last.
10 And they shall stone him with stones, and he shall die, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not again do according to this evil thing among you.
12 And if in one of your cities which the Lord God gives you to dwell in, you shall hear men saying,
13 Evil men have gone out from you, and have caused all the inhabitants of their land to fall away, saying, Let us go and worship other gods, whom you knew not,
14 then you shall inquire and ask, and search diligently, and behold, [if] the thing is clearly true, and this abomination has taken place among you,
15 you shall utterly destroy all the inhabitants of that land with the edge of the sword; you shall solemnly curse it, and all things in it.
16 And all its spoils you shall gather into its public ways, and you shall burn the city with fire, and all its spoils publicly before the Lord your God; and it shall be uninhabited forever, it shall not be built again.
17 And none of the cursed things shall cleave to your hand, that the Lord may turn from His fierce anger, and show you mercy, and pity you, and multiply you, as He swore to your fathers;
18 if you will hear the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments, all that I charge you this day, to do that which is good and pleasing before the Lord your God.
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.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
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.