« | Deuteronomy 8 | » |
1 You shall observe to do all the commands which I charge you today, that you may live and be multiplied, and enter in and inherit the land, which the Lord your God swore to your fathers.
2 And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness, that He might afflict you, and try you, and that the things in your heart might be made manifest, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3 And He afflicted you and straitened you with hunger, and fed you with manna, which your fathers knew not; that He might teach you that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.
4 Your garments grew not old from off you, your shoes were not worn from off you, your feet were not [painfully] hardened, behold, for these forty years!
5 And you shall know in your heart, that as if any man should chasten his son, so the Lord your God will chasten you.
6 And you shall keep the commands of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.
7 For the Lord your God will bring you into a good and extensive land, where there are torrents of waters, and fountains of deep places issuing through the plains and through the mountains;
8 a land of wheat and barley, [with] vines, figs, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey;
9 a land on which you shall not eat your bread with poverty, and you shall not need anything upon it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of its mountains you shall dig brass.
10 And you shall eat and be filled, and shall bless the Lord your God on the good land, which He has given you.
11 Take heed to yourself that you forget not the Lord your God, so as not to keep His commands, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you this day,
12 lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built nice houses, and dwelt in them;
13 and your oxen and your sheep are multiplied to you, and your silver and your gold are multiplied to you, and all your possessions are multiplied to you,
14 [that] you should be exalted in your heart, and forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
15 who brought you through that great and terrible wilderness, where the biting serpent [is], and the scorpion, and drought, where there was no water; who brought you a fountain of water out of the flinty rock;
16 who fed you with manna in the wilderness, which you knew not, and your fathers knew not; that He might afflict you, and thoroughly test you, and do you good in your latter days.
17 Lest you should say in your heart, My strength, and the power of my [own] hand have worked for me this great wealth!
18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, that He gives you strength to get wealth; even that He may establish His covenant, which the Lord swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
19 And it shall come to pass, [that] if you do at all forget the Lord your God, and should go after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall surely perish!
20 As also the other nations which the Lord God destroys before your face, so shall you perish, because you would not heed the voice of the Lord your God.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.