« | Ezekiel 7 | » |
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Also, you, son of man, say,
2 Thus says the Lord: An end has come to the land of Israel, the end has come on the four corners of the land.
3 Now the end [has come] upon you, and I will send [judgment] upon you: and I will take vengeance on your ways, and will recompense all your abominations upon you.
4 My eye shall not spare, nor will I have any mercy, for I will recompense your way upon you, and your abominations shall be in the midst of you; and you shall know that I am the Lord.
5 For thus says the Lord; Behold, the end has come.
6 The end has come on you,
7 the inhabitant of the land: the time has come, the day has drawn near, not with tumult, nor with pangs.
8 Now I will pour out My anger upon you near at hand, and I will accomplish My wrath on you: and I will judge you for your ways, and recompense all your abominations upon you.
9 My eye shall not spare, nor will I have any mercy: for I will recompense your ways upon you, and your abominations shall be in the midst of you; and you shall know that I am the Lord that strikes [you].
10 Behold, the day of the Lord! Although the rod has blossomed,
11 pride has sprung up, and will break the staff of the wicked one, and [that] not with tumult, nor with haste.
12 The time has come, behold the day: let not the buyer rejoice, and let not the seller mourn.
13 For the buyer shall never again return to the seller, neither shall a man cleave with the eye [of hope] to his life.
14 Sound the trumpet, and pass sentence on all together.
15 [There shall be] war with the sword without, and famine and pestilence within: he that is in the field shall die by the sword, and famine and pestilence shall destroy them that are in the city.
16 But they that escape among them shall be delivered, and shall be upon the mountains, and I will slay all [the rest], everyone for his iniquities.
17 All hands shall be completely weakened, and all thighs shall be defiled with moisture.
18 And they shall gird themselves with sackcloth, and amazement shall cover them; and shame shall be upon them, [even] upon every face, and baldness upon every head.
19 Their silver shall be cast forth in the streets, and their gold shall be despised: their souls shall not be satisfied, and their bellies shall not be filled; for it was the punishment of their iniquities.
20 [As for] their choice ornaments, they employed them for pride, and they made of them images of their abominations; therefore have I made them uncleanness to them.
21 And I will deliver them into the hands of strangers to make them a prey, and to the pests of the earth for a spoil; and they shall profane them.
22 And I will turn away My face from them, and they shall defile My secret place, and shall go in to them unguardedly, and profane them.
23 And they shall work uncleanness: because the land is full of strange nations, and the city is full of iniquity.
24 And I will turn back the boasting of their strength; and their holy things shall be defiled.
25 And [though] propitiation shall come, and [one] shall seek peace, yet there shall be none.
26 There shall be woe upon woe, and there shall be message upon message; and a vision shall be sought from a prophet, but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.
27 The prince shall clothe himself with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be made feeble. I will do to them according to their ways, and according to their judgments will I punish 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.