« | Deuteronomy 23 | » |
1 "No man who has his sex part crushed or cut off will go into the meeting of the Lord.
2 No one who was born to parents who were not married will go into the meeting of the Lord. And none of his children will go into the meeting of the Lord, even to the children's children of ten families in the future.
3 No Ammonite or Moabite will go into the meeting of the Lord. None of their children will go into the meeting of the Lord, even to the children's children of ten families of the future,
4 because they did not meet you with food and water on your way from Egypt, and they paid Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia to curse you.
5 But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam. Instead He changed the curse into good for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
6 Do nothing for their peace or their well-being all your days.
7 "Do not hate an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not hate an Egyptian. For you were a stranger in his land.
8 Their great-grandchildren may go into the meeting of the Lord.
9 "When you go as an army against those who hate you, keep yourself away from every sinful thing.
10 If there is any man among you who is unclean because he had a flow from his body during the night, he must go away from the tents. He must not come among the tents.
11 When evening comes he must wash his body with water. And when the sun goes down he may return to the tents.
12 "You should have a place to go away from the tents.
13 You should have a tool there to dig with. Use it to dig a hole when you sit down outside. Then use it to cover the waste from your body.
14 Because the Lord your God walks among your tents to set you free and make you win the battle against those who hate you, the place where your tents are must be holy. He must not see anything among you that is unclean and turn away from you.
15 "If a servant runs away from his owner and comes to you, do not return him to his owner.
16 Let him stay with you, in the place he chooses in one of your towns, where it pleases him. Do not make it hard for him.
17 "No daughter of Israel is to sell the use of her body in worship to a strange god. And no son of Israel is to sell the use of his body for a strange god.
18 You must not bring the pay of a woman who sells the use of her body or of a man who does sex sins into the house of the Lord your God for any promised gift. For the Lord your God hates both of these.
19 Do not make your brothers pay you for the use of money, food, or anything you might give them to use.
20 You may make a stranger pay you for the use of money, but not your brother. So the Lord your God may bring good to you in all you do in the land you are going into to have for your own.
21 "When you make a promise to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it. It would be sin in you, for the Lord your God will be sure to ask you for it.
22 But if you do not make a promise, it would not be sin in you.
23 Be careful to do what you say you are going to do. Keep the promise you have made to the Lord your God because you want to.
24 "When you go into your neighbor's grape-field, you may eat grapes until you are full. But do not put any in your basket.
25 When you go into your neighbor's grain field, you may pick the heads with your hand. But do not cut down any of your neighbor's standing grain.
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.