« | Exodus 37 | » |
1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.
4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold
5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat,
8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends.
9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.
10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.
11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it.
12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim.
13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs.
14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table.
15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold.
16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.
17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it.
18 And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;
19 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch- so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.
20 And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers,
21 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it.
22 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was a single piece of hammered work of pure gold.
23 And he made its seven lamps and its tongs and its trays of pure gold.
24 He made it and all its utensils out of a talent of pure gold.
25 He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it.
26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it,
27 and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it.
28 And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
29 He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.
The English Standard Version (ESV)
The English Standard Version (ESV) is a prominent Bible translation that strives to balance word-for-word accuracy with readability. First published in 2001 by Crossway, the ESV was developed by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors. It aims to provide a faithful rendering of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts while maintaining the literary quality and stylistic beauty of the English language. This translation approach makes the ESV suitable for both personal study and public worship.
A key feature of the ESV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or essentially literal translation philosophy. This method prioritizes a close correspondence between the original languages and the English text, ensuring that the translation remains as true as possible to the original words and structures. The ESV translators worked meticulously to preserve the nuances and intricacies of the biblical languages, while also striving for clarity and smoothness in English. This balance makes the ESV highly regarded for its accuracy and readability.
The ESV is also known for its use in academic and scholarly settings. Its rigorous translation process and commitment to textual fidelity make it a reliable resource for in-depth Bible study and theological research. The translation includes extensive footnotes and cross-references that provide additional context and insights, helping readers to understand the historical, cultural, and linguistic background of the scriptures. The ESV’s clear and precise language has made it a preferred choice for pastors, scholars, and serious students of the Bible.
Despite its many strengths, the ESV has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s formal equivalence approach can sometimes result in a text that is overly rigid and less fluid than more dynamic translations. Others have raised concerns about gender-specific language in the ESV, suggesting that it may not be as inclusive as some other modern translations. Nonetheless, the English Standard Version remains a highly respected and widely used translation, valued for its accuracy, readability, and commitment to preserving the original meaning of the biblical texts.