« | Deuteronomy 8 | » |
1 "Be careful to do all that I am telling you today. Then you will live and have many children, and go in to own the land the Lord promised to give to your fathers.
2 You will remember all the way the Lord your God led you in the desert these forty years, so you would not have pride, and how He tested you to know what was in your heart to see if you would obey His Laws or not.
3 He let you be hungry which helped you to not have pride. Then He fed you with bread from heaven which you and your fathers had not known. He did this to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone. But man lives by everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord.
4 Your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not get sore during these forty years.
5 So know in your heart that the Lord your God was punishing you just as a man punishes his son.
6 Keep the Laws of the Lord your God. Walk in His ways, and fear Him.
7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of rivers and wells of water, flowing into valleys from hills.
8 It is a land of grains, vines, fig trees, fruit, olive oil and honey.
9 It is a land where you will have enough food to eat and not have to do without, a land where stones are iron. And you can make brass from what you dig out of its hills.
10 When you have eaten and are filled, you will honor and thank the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.
11 "Be careful not to forget the Lord your God by not keeping all His Laws which I am telling you today.
12 When you have eaten and are filled, and have built good houses to live in,
13 and when your cattle and flocks become many, and you get much silver and gold, and have many things for your own,
14 be careful not to become proud. Do not forget the Lord your God Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house where you were servants.
15 He led you through the big desert that brought fear with its poisonous snakes and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water. He brought you water out of hard rock.
16 In the desert He fed you bread from heaven, which your fathers did not know about. He did this so you would not have pride and that He might test you. It was for your good in the end.
17 Be careful not to say in your heart, 'My power and strong hand have made me rich.'
18 But remember the Lord your God. For it is He Who is giving you power to become rich. By this He may keep His agreement which He promised to your fathers, as it is this day.
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and go to other gods to worship and work for them, I tell you today that you will be destroyed for sure.
20 You will be destroyed like the nations the Lord destroys before you, because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.
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.