« | Exodus 15 | » |
1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, "I will sing to the Lord, for He is praised for His greatness. He has thrown the horse and horseman into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and song. He is the One Who saves me. He is my God and I will praise Him. He is my father's God and I will honor Him.
3 The Lord is a fighter. The Lord is His name.
4 He has thrown Pharaoh's war-wagons and army into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's leaders are under the Red Sea.
5 The water covers them. They went down in the deep water like a stone.
6 O Lord, Your right hand is great in power. O Lord, Your right hand destroys those who hate You.
7 In the greatness of Your power You destroy those who fight against You. You send Your burning anger and it burns them like straw.
8 The waters were lifted up by Your breath. The flowing waters stood up like a wall. The water became hard in the middle of the sea.
9 Those who hated us said, 'I will go after them. I will catch them. I will divide the riches taken from them. My soul will have its way against them. I will take out my sword and my hand will destroy them.'
10 You, Lord, blew with Your wind and the sea covered them. They went down like iron in the powerful sea.
11 Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, great and holy, praised in fear, doing powerful works?
12 You put out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them.
13 You have led with loving-kindness the people You have made free. You have led them in Your strength to Your holy place.
14 The nations have heard of it, and they shake in fear. Pain has come upon the people of Philistia.
15 Now the leaders of Edom are afraid. The leaders of Moab shake in fear. All the people of Canaan have become weak.
16 Much fear comes upon them. They see Your strength, O Lord. They are afraid and do not move until Your people have passed by, the people You have bought and made free.
17 You will bring them in and put them on Your own mountain. It is the place, O Lord, where You have made Your house, the holy place, which Your hands have built.
18 The Lord will rule forever and ever."
19 For Pharaoh's horses and warwagons and horsemen went in the sea. The Lord brought the waters of the sea upon them. But the people of Israel walked on dry land through the sea.
20 Then Aaron's sister Miriam, the woman who spoke for the Lord, took a timbrel in her hand. And all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
21 Miriam said to them, "Sing to the Lord, for He is praised for His greatness. He has thrown the horse and horseman into the sea."
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea. They went into the Desert of Shur. They went three days in the place where no people live and found no water.
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. So it was given the name Marah.
24 The people complained to Moses, saying, "What can we drink?"
25 Moses cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a Law for them and tested them.
26 He said, "Listen well to the voice of the Lord your God. Do what is right in His eyes. Listen to what He tells you, and obey all His Laws. If you do this, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord Who heals you."
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy trees. They set up their tents there beside the water.
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.