« | Exodus 27 | » |
1 "Make the altar of acacia wood. It will be as long and as wide as three steps, and as tall as a man's chest.
2 Make horns for it on its four corners. They will be of one piece and covered with brass.
3 Make its pails for taking away its ashes, its tools for picking up the ashes, its pots, meat-hooks and fire-holders. Make all of these out of brass.
4 Make a net for it out of brass, with four rings of brass at its four corners.
5 Put it under the altar so that the net comes up to the center of the altar.
6 Make long, straight pieces of acacia wood for the altar. And cover them with brass.
7 Put the long pieces of wood through the rings on each side of the altar when it is carried.
8 Make the altar with pieces of wood so it is empty inside. Make it as it was shown to you on the mountain.
9 "Make the open space of the meeting tent. On the south side there will be curtains for the open space. Make them of fine linen, as long as fifty long steps.
10 They will hang from twenty pillars which are put on twenty bases of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their rings will be made of silver.
11 Do the same for the north side. There will be curtains as long as fifty long steps, and twenty pillars with twenty bases of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their rings will be made of silver.
12 On the west side of the open space there will be curtains as long as twenty-five long steps. They will have ten pillars with ten bases.
13 And the east side of the open space will be as wide as twentyfive long steps.
14 "The curtains for one side of the gate will be as long as seven steps. They will have three pillars with three bases.
15 On the other side there will be curtains as long as seven steps, with three pillars and three bases.
16 Have an able workman make a curtain out of fine linen for the gate of the open space. It will be blue, purple and red, and as long as ten long steps. It will have four pillars with four bases.
17 All the pillars around the open space will have silver hooks, silver rings, and their bases of brass.
18 The open space will be as long as fifty long steps, as wide as twenty-five long steps, and as high as a man raises his hand. It will have curtains of fine linen and the bases will be brass.
19 All the tools used in the meeting tent, all its nails, and all the nails for the open space will be made of brass.
20 "Tell the people of Israel to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, so a lamp may burn all the time.
21 In the meeting tent, outside the curtain which is in front of the Law, Aaron and his sons will take care of it from evening until morning before the Lord. It will be a law forever for the people of Israel.
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.