« | Exodus 3 | » |
1 And Moses was feeding the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he brought the sheep close to the wilderness, and came to the mount of Horeb.
2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in flaming fire out of the bush, and he saw that the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will go near and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed.
4 And when the Lord saw that he drew near to see, the Lord called him out of the bush, saying, Moses, Moses. And he said, What is it?
5 And He said, Draw no closer! Loose your sandals from off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
6 And He said, I am the God of your father- the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses turned away his face, for he was afraid to gaze at God.
7 And the Lord said to Moses, I have surely seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt, and I have heard their cry [caused] by their taskmasters; for I know their affliction.
8 And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land, and to bring them into a good and wide land, into a land flowing with milk and honey, into the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and Girgashites and Hivites and Jebusites.
9 And now behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have seen the affliction with which the Egyptians afflict them.
10 And now come, I will send you to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and you shall bring out My people the children of Israel from the land of Egypt.
11 And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and that I should bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt?
12 And God spoke to Moses, saying, I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that I shall send you forth: when you bring out My people out of Egypt, then you shall serve God in this mountain.
13 And Moses said to God, Behold, I shall go forth to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of our fathers has sent me to you; and they will ask me, What is His name? What shall I say to them?
14 And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am THE BEING. And He said, Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you.
15 And God said again to Moses, Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: The Lord God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is My name forever, and My memorial to all generations.
16 Go then and gather the elders of the children of Israel, and you shall say to them, The Lord God of our fathers has appeared to me, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, saying, I have surely looked upon you, and upon all the things which have happened to you in Egypt.
17 And He said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of the Egyptians to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.
18 And they shall hearken to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go in to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us. We will go then a journey of three days into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to our God.
19 But I know that Pharaoh king of Egypt will not let you go, except by a mighty hand;
20 and I will stretch out My hand, and smite the Egyptians with all My wonders, which I shall work among them, and after that he will send you forth.
21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and whenever you shall escape, you shall not depart empty.
22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and fellow lodger, articles of gold and silver, and apparel; and you shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.
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.