« | Ezekiel 8 | » |
1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth [day] of the month, I was sitting in the house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me. And the hand of the Lord came upon me.
2 And I looked, and behold, the likeness of a man: from his loins and downwards [there was] fire, and from his loins upwards [there was] as the appearance of amber.
3 And He stretched forth the likeness of a hand, and took me by the crown of my head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and sky, and brought me to Jerusalem in a vision of God, to the porch of the gate that looks to the north, where was the pillar of the Purchaser.
4 And behold, the glory of the Lord God of Israel was there, according to the vision which I saw in the plain.
5 And He said to me, Son of man, lift up your eyes toward the north. So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold[, I looked] from the north toward the eastern gate.
6 And He said to me, Son of man, have you seen what these [people] do? They commit great abominations here, so that I should keep away from My sanctuary; and you shall see even greater iniquities.
7 And He brought me to the porch of the court.
8 And He said to me, Son of man, dig. So I dug, and behold, [there was] a door.
9 And He said to me, Go in, and behold the iniquities which they practice here.
10 So I went in and looked, and I beheld vain abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon them round about.
11 And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Jechoniah the son of Shaphan stood in their presence in the midst of them, and each one held his censer in his hand; and the smoke of the incense went up.
12 And He said to me, You have seen, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel do, each one of them in their secret chamber; because they have said, The Lord does not see; the Lord has forsaken the earth.
13 And He said to me, You shall see even greater iniquities than these.
14 And He brought me in to the porch of the house of the Lord that looks to the north; and behold [there were] women sitting there lamenting for Tammuz.
15 And He said to me, Son of man, you have seen; but you shall yet see [evil] practices [even] greater then these.
16 And He brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty men, with their back parts toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces [turned] the opposite way; and these were worshipping the sun.
17 And He said to me, Son of man, you have seen this. [Is it] a trivial thing to the house of Judah to practice the iniquities which they have practiced here? For they have filled the land with iniquity; and behold, these are as scorners.
18 Therefore will I deal with them in wrath: My eye shall not spare, nor will I have any mercy.
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.