« | Deuteronomy 27 | » |
1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: "Keep all these commands that I give you today.
2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.
3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.
6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.
8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up."
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God.
10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today."
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15 "Cursed is anyone who makes an idol�a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of skilled hands�and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
16 "Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
17 "Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
18 "Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
19 "Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
20 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father's wife, for he dishonors his father's bed." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
21 "Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
22 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
23 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
24 "Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
25 "Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
26 "Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
Today’s New International Version (TNIV)
Today’s New International Version (TNIV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that was first published in its complete form in 2005 by the International Bible Society, now known as Biblica. The TNIV is a revision of the New International Version (NIV), which was initially released in 1978. The primary goal of the TNIV was to update the language and address gender inclusivity while maintaining the readability and accuracy that made the NIV popular. The translation aimed to reflect contemporary English usage and to be accessible to a broad audience, including both men and women.
One of the key features of the TNIV is its commitment to gender-inclusive language. The translators sought to avoid gender-specific terms where the original texts did not explicitly require them, thereby making the text more inclusive and reflective of modern linguistic sensibilities. For example, where the original Greek or Hebrew text used terms that referred to both men and women, the TNIV translated them in a gender-neutral manner. This approach aimed to make the Bible more accessible and relatable to all readers, ensuring that no one felt excluded by the language used.
The TNIV also made several other updates to enhance clarity and readability. The translators incorporated the latest biblical scholarship and linguistic research to ensure that the translation accurately conveyed the meaning of the original texts. They aimed to strike a balance between maintaining the formal equivalence of the original languages and using dynamic equivalence to make the text more understandable for contemporary readers. This involved updating archaic words and phrases, improving sentence structures, and clarifying ambiguous passages without losing the essence of the original scriptures.
Despite its strengths, the TNIV faced significant controversy and criticism, particularly from conservative Christian groups and scholars. Critics argued that the gender-inclusive language could potentially distort the intended meaning of the biblical texts and that the changes were driven more by cultural trends than by faithful adherence to the original manuscripts. The debate over the TNIV’s translation choices led to its eventual discontinuation, with Biblica deciding to focus on updating the NIV instead. However, the TNIV’s influence can still be seen in subsequent revisions of the NIV, which have incorporated some of the gender-inclusive principles and linguistic updates introduced by the TNIV.