« | Deuteronomy 25 | » |
1 "Two men might argue and go to court. The judges will decide between them, saying that the right man is not guilty and that the sinful man is guilty.
2 If the sinful man should be beaten, the leader will make him lie down and be beaten in front of him. The number of times he is beaten will be decided upon by how bad his sin is.
3 The number may be as much as forty, but no more. If he is beaten more than this, your brother would be put to much shame in your eyes.
4 "When the bull is made to walk on the grain to break it open, do not stop him from eating some.
5 "When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the dead man's wife must not be married outside the family to a strange man. The husband's brother will take her as his wife and do what he should for her as a brother-in-law.
6 The first son born to her will take the name of the dead brother so his name will not be forgotten in Israel.
7 But the man might not want to take his brother's wife. Then his brother's wife should go to the leaders at the gate and say, 'My husband's brother will not make his brother's name to be remembered in Israel. He is not willing to do the duty of a brother-in-law to me.'
8 Then the leaders of his city will call him and speak to him. If he still says, 'I do not want to take her,'
9 then his brother's wife will come to him in front of the leaders. She will pull his shoe off his foot and spit in his face. And she will say, 'This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's house.'
10 In Israel his name will be called, 'The house of him whose shoe is pulled off.'
11 "If two men are fighting together and the wife of one comes to save her husband from the one who is hitting him and if she puts out her hand and takes hold of his sex part,
12 you must cut off her hand. Do not show pity.
13 "You must not have two different weights in your bag, one large and one small.
14 You must not have in your house different ways of showing how big or small something is.
15 You must have a full and fair weight. You must have a fair way to show how big something is. Then you will live long in the land the Lord your God gives you.
16 For the Lord hates everyone who does such things, who lies and is not fair.
17 "Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt.
18 He met you on the way when you were weak and tired. And he fought with those who were behind. He did not fear God.
19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all those around you who hate you, in the land the Lord your God gives you for your own, you must forget all about Amalek, so no one under heaven will remember him. Do not forget to do this.
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.