« | Ezekiel 12 | » |
1 And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see and see not. They have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house.
3 Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself vessels for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes. And you shall be exiled from your place to another place before their eyes. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.
4 And you shall bring out your vessels, as vessels for exile, by day before their eyes. And you shall go out at evening before their eyes, as those going into exile.
5 Dig through the wall before their eyes, and carry out through it.
6 Before their eyes you shall carry it on your shoulders, carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you do not see the ground, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel.
7 And I did as I was commanded. By day I brought out my vessel as a vessel for exile. And in the evening I dug by hand through the wall. I brought it out in the dark, and I carried it on my shoulder before their eyes.
8 And in the morning the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
9 Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, What are you doing?
10 Say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: This burden concerns the king in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel among them.
11 Say, I am your sign: As I have done, so it shall be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.
12 And the king who is among them shall carry burdens on his shoulder in the dark, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry out by it. He shall hide his face so that he does not see the ground with his eye.
13 I will also spread My net on him, and He shall be taken in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. Yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there.
14 And I will scatter to every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
15 And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall scatter them among the nations and scatter them in the countries.
16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the plague, so that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come. And they shall know that I am Jehovah.
17 And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
18 Son of man, eat your bread with quaking and drink your water with trembling and anxiety.
19 And say to the people of the land: So says the Lord Jehovah of the people of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, so that her land may be desolated of her fullness, because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.
20 And the cities that have people shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate. And you shall know that I am Jehovah.
21 And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
22 Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, The days will go on and every vision shall fail?
23 Therefore tell them, So says the Lord Jehovah: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel. But say to them, The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.
24 For there shall never again be any vain vision nor slippery divination within the house of Israel.
25 For I, Jehovah, will speak, and the Word that I shall speak shall be done. It shall no more be delayed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the Word and will do it, says the Lord Jehovah.
26 And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
27 Son of man, behold, the house of Israel says, The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off.
28 Therefore say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: There shall none of My Words be delayed any more, but the Word which I have spoken shall be done, says the Lord Jehovah.
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.