« | Exodus 23 | » |
1 You shall not receive a false report. You shall not agree with the unjust to become an unjust witness.
2 You shall not associate with the multitude for evil. You shall not join yourself with a multitude to turn aside with the majority so as to shut out judgment.
3 And you shall not spare a poor man in judgment.
4 And if you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall turn them back and restore them to him.
5 And if you see your enemy's donkey fallen under its burden, you shall not pass by it, but you shall help to raise it with him.
6 You shall not pervert the judgment of the poor in his cause.
7 You shall abstain from every unjust thing: you shall not slay the innocent and righteous, and you shall not justify the wicked for gifts.
8 And you shall not receive gifts; for gifts blind the eyes of the seeing, and corrupt just words.
9 And you shall not afflict a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger; for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt.
10 Six years you shall sow your land, and gather in the fruits of it.
11 But in the seventh year you shall let it rest, and leave it, and the poor of your nation shall feed; and the wild beasts of the field shall eat that which remains; thus shall you do to your vineyard and to your olive grove.
12 Six days shall you do your works, and on the seventh day there shall be rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and that the son of your maidservant and the stranger may be refreshed.
13 Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and you shall make no mention of the name of other gods, neither shall they be heard out of your mouth.
14 Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year.
15 Take heed to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread: seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I charged you at the season of the month of new [grain], for in it you came out of Egypt. You shall not appear before Me empty.
16 And you shall keep the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, whatsoever you shall have sown in your field, and the Feast of Completion at the end of the year in the gathering of your fruits out of your field.
17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God.
18 For when I shall have cast out the nations from before you, and shall have widened your borders, you shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, neither must the fat of My feast abide till the morning.
19 You shall bring the first offerings of the firstfruits of your land into the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young lamb in its mother's milk.
20 And behold, I send My angel before your face, that He may keep you in the way, that He may bring you into the land which I have prepared for you.
21 Take heed to yourself and hearken to Him, and disobey Him not; for He will not give way to you, for My name is in Him.
22 If you will indeed hear My voice, and if you will do all the things I shall charge you with, and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a peculiar people above all nations. For the whole earth is Mine, and you shall be to Me a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. These words shall you speak to the children of Israel: If you shall indeed hear My voice, and do all the things I shall tell you, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries.
23 For My angel shall go as your leader, and shall bring you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Gergesites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them.
24 You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them. You shall not do according to their works, but shall utterly destroy them, and break to pieces their pillars.
25 And you shall serve the Lord your God, and I will bless your bread and your wine and your water, and I will turn away sickness from you.
26 There shall not be one that is impotent or barren on your land. I will surely fulfill the number of your days.
27 And I will send terror before you, and I will strike with amazement all the nations to which you shall come, and I will make all your enemies to flee.
28 And I will send hornets before you, and you shall cast out the Amorites and the Hivites and the Canaanites and the Hittites from you.
29 I will not cast them out in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against you.
30 By little [and little] I will cast them out from before you, until you shall be increased and inherit the earth.
31 And I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the great river Euphrates; and I will give into your hand those that dwell in the land, and will cast them out from you.
32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.
33 And they shall not dwell in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me; for if you should serve their gods, these will be an offense to you.
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.