« | Ezekiel 19 | » |
1 "Moreover take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
2 "and say: 'What [is] your mother? A lioness: She lay down among the lions; Among the young lions she nourished her cubs.
3 She brought up one of her cubs, And he became a young lion; He learned to catch prey, And he devoured men.
4 The nations also heard of him; He was trapped in their pit, And they brought him with chains to the land of Egypt.
5 'When she saw that she waited, [that] her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs [and] made him a young lion.
6 He roved among the lions, And became a young lion; He learned to catch prey; He devoured men.
7 He knew their desolate places, And laid waste their cities; The land with its fullness was desolated By the noise of his roaring.
8 Then the nations set against him from the provinces on every side, And spread their net over him; He was trapped in their pit.
9 They put him in a cage with chains, And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in nets, That his voice should no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10 ' Your mother [was] like a vine in your bloodline, Planted by the waters, Fruitful and full of branches Because of many waters.
11 She had strong branches for scepters of rulers. She towered in stature above the thick branches, And was seen in her height amid the dense foliage.
12 But she was plucked up in fury, She was cast down to the ground, And the east wind dried her fruit. Her strong branches were broken and withered; The fire consumed them.
13 And now she [is] planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire has come out from a rod of her branches [And] devoured her fruit, So that she has no strong branch -- a scepter for ruling.' " This [is] a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
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.