« | Deuteronomy 16 | » |
1 "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
2 "Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name.
3 "You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, [that is,] the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
4 "And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall [any] of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning.
5 "You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you;
6 "but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt.
7 "And you shall roast and eat [it] in the place which the LORD your God chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents.
8 "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there [shall be] a sacred assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work [on it.]
9 " You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from [the time] you begin [to put] the sickle to the grain.
10 "Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.
11 "You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who [is] within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who [are] among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.
12 "And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
13 " You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.
14 "And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who [are] within your gates.
15 "Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.
16 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
17 "Every man [shall give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
18 " You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
19 "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
20 "You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
21 " You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God.
22 "You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.