« | Ezekiel 24 | » |
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth [day] of the month, saying,
2 Son of man, write down the name of the day, this very day, on which the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem, [even] from this day.
3 And speak a parable to the provoking house, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: Set on the caldron, and pour water into it,
4 and put the pieces into it, every prime piece, the leg and shoulder taken off from the bones,
5 [which are] taken from choice cattle, and burn the bones under them; her bones are boiled and cooked in the midst of her.
6 Therefore thus says the Lord: O bloody city, the caldron in which there is scum, and the scum has not gone out of, she has brought it forth piece by piece, no lot has fallen upon it.
7 For her blood is in the midst of her; I have set it upon a smooth rock; I have not poured it out upon the earth, so that the earth should cover it;
8 that My wrath should come up for complete vengeance to be taken; I set her blood upon a smooth rock, so as not to cover it.
9 Therefore thus says the Lord: I will also make the firebrand great,
10 and I will multiply the wood, and kindle the fire, that the flesh may be consumed, and the liquor boiled away;
11 and that [it] may stand upon the coals, that her brass may be thoroughly heated, and be melted in the midst of her filthiness, and her scum may be consumed,
12 and her abundant scum may not come forth from her.
13 Her scum shall become shameful, because you defiled yourself; and what if you shall be purged no more until I have accomplished My wrath?
14 I the Lord have spoken; and it shall come, and I will do [it]; I will not delay, neither will I have any mercy: I will judge you, says the Lord, according to your ways, and according to your devices. Therefore will I judge you according to your bloodshed, and according to your devices will I judge you, you unclean, notorious, and abundantly provoking one.
15 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
16 Son of man, behold I take from you the desire of your eyes by violence. You shall not lament, neither shall you weep.
17 You shall groan for blood, and have mourning upon your loins; your hair shall not be braided upon you, and your sandals [shall be] on your feet; you shall by no means be comforted by their lips, and you shall not eat the bread of men.
18 And I spoke to the people in the morning, as He commanded me in the evening, and I did in the morning as it was commanded me.
19 And the people said to me, Will you not tell us what these things are that you do?
20 Then I said to them, The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
21 Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord: Behold, I [will] profane My sanctuary, the boast of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and for which your souls are concerned; and your sons and your daughters, whom you have left, shall fall by the sword.
22 And you shall do as I have done: you shall not be comforted at their mouth, and you shall not eat the bread of men.
23 And your hair [shall be] upon your head, and your shoes on your feet; neither shall you at all lament or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities, and shall comfort everyone his brother.
24 And Ezekiel shall be for a sign to you: according to all that I have done shall you do, when these things shall come; and you shall know that I am the Lord.
25 And you, son of man, [shall it] not [be] in the day when I take their strength from them, the pride of their boasting, the desires of their eyes, and the pride of their soul, their sons and their daughters,
26 that in that day he that escapes shall come to you, to tell [it] to you in your ears?
27 In that day your mouth shall be opened to him that escapes; you shall speak, and shall be no longer dumb; and you shall be for a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.