« | Ezekiel 11 | » |
1 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of Jehovah's house, which faces eastward. And behold, twenty-five men were at the opening of the gate; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, rulers of the people.
2 And He said to me, Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked advice in this city;
3 who say, It is not near; let us build houses; this city is the pot, and we are the flesh.
4 Therefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, O son of man!
5 And the Spirit of Jehovah fell on me, and said to me, Speak: So says Jehovah: So you have said, O house of Israel, for I Myself know the elevations of your spirit.
6 You have multiplied your dead in this city, and you have filled its streets with the dead.
7 Therefore so says the Lord Jehovah: Your slain whom you have laid in her midst, they are the flesh, and this city is the pot. But I will bring you out of her midst.
8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring a sword on you, says the Lord Jehovah.
9 And I will bring you out of her midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments on you.
10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you in the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am Jehovah.
11 This city shall not be your pot, nor shall you be the flesh in her midst. But I will judge you in the border of Israel,
12 and you shall know that I am Jehovah. For you have not walked in My statutes, nor have you done My judgments, but have done after the customs of the nations all around you.
13 And it happened when I prophesied, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. And I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! Will You make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
14 Again the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
15 Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your kindred, and all the house of Israel, all that have heard the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying to all of them, Go far away from Jehovah; this land is given to us for a possession.
16 Therefore say, So says the Lord Jehovah: Though I have sent them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the lands, yet I will be to them as a little sanctuary in the lands where they had gone.
17 Therefore say, So says the Lord Jehovah: I will even gather you from the people and assemble you out of the lands, in those where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
18 And they shall come there, and they shall take away all its hateful things and all its abominations from it.
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will remove the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh,
20 so that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
21 And as to those whose heart is going after their hateful things, and also their heart is after their disgusting idols, I will give their way on their own heads, says the Lord Jehovah.
22 And the cherubs lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them. And the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23 And the glory of Jehovah went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. And the vision that I had seen went up from me.
25 And I spoke to the exiles all the things that Jehovah had shown me.
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.