« | Exodus 5 | » |
1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.
3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go, we pray you, three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to Jehovah our God, lest He fall upon us with plague or with the sword.
4 And the king of Egypt said to them, Moses and Aaron, Why do you keep the people from their work? Get to your burdens!
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers the same day, saying,
7 You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And you shall lay upon them the number of bricks which they have made before now. You shall not take away from it. For they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go sacrifice to our God.
9 Let more work be laid upon the men, and let them labor in it. And do not let them regard vain words.
10 And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out. And they spoke to the people, saying, So says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11 Go and get straw where you can find it, yet not any of your work shall be taken away.
12 So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
13 And the taskmasters hurried them, saying, Finish your works, the thing of a day, just as when there was straw.
14 And the taskmasters of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten. And they demanded, Why have you not completed your task in making brick, both yesterday and today, as you did before?
15 And the overseers of the sons of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why do you deal so with your servants?
16 There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, Make bricks! And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.
17 But he said, You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, Let us go, let us sacrifice to Jehovah.
18 Therefore go now and work, for there shall be no straw given to you; yet you shall deliver the number of bricks.
19 And the overseers of the sons of Israel saw themselves in affliction, after it was said, You shall not take away from your bricks of your daily task.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron standing in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh.
21 And they said to them, Jehovah look upon you and judge, because you have made our smell to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to kill us.
22 And Moses returned to Jehovah, and said, Lord, why have You treated this people ill? Why then have you sent me?
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people. Neither have You delivered Your people at all.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.