« | Ezekiel 12 | » |
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they [are] a rebellious house.
3 "Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they [are] a rebellious house.
4 "By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity.
5 "Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it.
6 "In their sight you shall bear [them] on [your] shoulders [and] carry [them] out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."
7 So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought [them] out at twilight, [and] I bore [them] on [my] shoulder in their sight.
8 And in the morning the word of the LORD 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, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "This burden [concerns] the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them." '
11 "Say, 'I [am] a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall be carried away into captivity.'
12 "And the prince who [is] among them shall bear [his belongings] on [his] shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry [them] out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with [his] eyes.
13 "I will also spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, [to] the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there.
14 "I will scatter to every wind all who [are] around him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them.
15 "Then they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.
16 "But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I [am] the LORD."
17 Moreover the word of the LORD 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, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the inhabitants of Jerusalem [and] to the land of Israel: "They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may be emptied of all who are in it, because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.
20 "Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I [am] the LORD." ' "
21 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
22 "Son of man, what [is] this proverb [that] you [people] have about the land of Israel, which says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'?
23 "Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will lay this proverb to rest, 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 no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25 "For I [am] the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it," says the Lord GOD.' "
26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
27 "Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees [is] for many days [from now,] and he prophesies of times far off.'
28 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done," says the Lord GOD.' "
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.