« | Deuteronomy 19 | » |
1 When Jehovah your God has cut off the nations whose land Jehovah your God gives you, and when you take their place and live in their cities and in their houses,
2 you shall separate three cities for you in the middle of your land, which Jehovah your God gives you to possess it.
3 You shall prepare you a way, and divide the borders of your land which Jehovah your God gives you to inherit, into three parts, so that every slayer may flee there.
4 And this is the case of the slayer who shall flee there that he may live: whoever in error kills his neighbor whom he did not hate him before,
5 even he who goes into the wood with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand brings a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the wood and lights on his neighbor so that he dies; he shall flee to one of those cities and live,
6 so that the avenger of the blood may not pursue the slayer while his heart is hot, and overtake him because the way is long, and kill him, and he had no sentence worthy of death, for he did not hate him in time past.
7 Therefore I command you saying, You shall separate three cities for you.
8 And if Jehovah your God makes your border larger, as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which He promised to give to your fathers;
9 if you will keep all these commandments which I command you today, to do them, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk always in His ways, then you shall add to yourself three more cities to these three,
10 so that innocent blood may not be shed in your land which Jehovah your God gives you for an inheritance, and blood may not be on you.
11 But if a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes his life from him, so that he dies, and flees to one of these cities,
12 then the elders of his city shall send and bring him away from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood so that he may die.
13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away innocent blood from Israel, so that it may go well with you.
14 You may not remove your neighbor's landmark, which those in the past have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land which Jehovah your God gives you to possess it.
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be made sure.
16 If a false witness rises up against any man to testify a falling away against him,
17 then both the men who are disagreeing shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days.
18 And the judges shall make careful inquiry. And behold, if the witness is a false witness and has testified falsely against his brother,
19 then you shall do to him as he had thought to have done to his brother. So you shall put the evil away from among you.
20 And those who remain shall hear and fear, and shall commit from then on no such evil among you.
21 And your eye shall not pity. Life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
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.