« | Ezekiel 35 | » |
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it,
3 "and say to it, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O Mount Seir, I [am] against you; I will stretch out My hand against you, And make you most desolate;
4 I shall lay your cities waste, And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD.
5 "Because you have had an ancient hatred, and have shed [the blood of] the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, [when] their iniquity [came to an] end,
6 "therefore, [as] I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you.
7 "Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns.
8 "And I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those who are slain by the sword shall fall.
9 "I will make you perpetually desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I [am] the LORD.
10 " Because you have said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them,' although the LORD was there,
11 "therefore, [as] I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.
12 "Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are desolate; they are given to us to consume.'
13 "Thus with your mouth you have boasted against Me and multiplied your words against Me; I have heard [them."]
14 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The whole earth will rejoice when I make you desolate.
15 "As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom -- all of it! Then they shall know that I [am] the LORD." '
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.