« | Ezekiel 10 | » |
1 Then I looked and saw something like a sapphire stone in the open space that was over the cherubim's heads. It looked like a throne above them.
2 And the Lord said to the man dressed in linen, "Go in between the wheels under the cherubim. Fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and throw them over the city." And as I watched, he went in.
3 Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house of the Lord when the man went in. And the cloud filled the open space inside.
4 Then the shining-greatness of the Lord went up from above the cherubim to the door of the Lord's house. The house of the Lord was filled with the cloud. And the open space was filled with the bright and shining-greatness of the Lord.
5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outside open space. It was like the voice of God All-powerful when He speaks.
6 When He told the man dressed in linen, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel.
7 Then one of the cherubim put out his hand to the fire which was among them. He took some and put it into the hands of the one dressed in linen, who took it and went out.
8 (The cherubim had what looked like a man's hands under their wings.)
9 Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. The wheels looked like they were made of shining chrysolite stone.
10 All four of them looked the same. Each looked like they had one wheel inside another wheel.
11 When they moved, they went in any of their four ways without turning as they went, but followed the way the head was facing without turning as they went.
12 And their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them.
13 The wheels were called in my hearing, "the turning wheels."
14 Each one of the cherubim had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub. The second face was the face of a man. The third was the face of a lion. And the fourth was the face of an eagle.
15 Then the cherubim rose up. They were the living beings that I saw by the Chebar River.
16 Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side.
17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still. When they rose up, the wheels rose with them. For the spirit of the living beings was in them.
18 Then the shining-greatness of the Lord left the door of the Lord's house and stood over the cherubim.
19 When the cherubim left, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in front of my eyes, with the wheels beside them. And they stood still at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house. The shining-greatness of the God of Israel was over them.
20 These are the living beings that I saw under the God of Israel by the Chebar River, so I knew that they were cherubim.
21 Each one had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands.
22 Their faces looked the same as those I had seen by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.
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.