« | Ezra 3 | » |
1 And the seventh month came on, and the children of Israel [were] in their cities, and the people assembled as one man at Jerusalem.
2 Then stood up Jeshua the [son] of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the [son] of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer upon it whole burnt offerings, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses the man of God.
3 And they set up the altar on its place, for there was a fear upon them because of the people of the land. And the whole burnt offerings was offered up upon it to the Lord morning and evening.
4 And they kept the Feast of Tabernacles, according to that which was written, and [offered] whole burnt offerings daily, in number according to the ordinance, the exact daily rate.
5 And after this the perpetual whole burnt offering, and [offering] for the season of new moon, and for all the hallowed feasts to the Lord, and for everyone that offered a freewill offering to the Lord.
6 On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the house of the Lord was not laid.
7 And they gave money to the stone masons and carpenters, and food and drink, and oil, to the Sidonians, and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant of Cyrus king of the Persians to them.
8 And in the second year of their coming to the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the [son] of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the [son] of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, over the workmen in the house of the Lord.
9 And Jeshua and his sons and brothers stood, [with] Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, over them that performed the works in the house of God; the sons of Henadad [with] their sons and their brothers the Levites.
10 And they laid a foundation for building the house of the Lord; and the priests in their robes stood with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the order of David king of Israel.
11 And they answered [each other] with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, [saying], For [it is] good, for His mercy to Israel [endures] forever. And all the people shouted with a loud voice to praise the Lord at the laying the foundation of the house of the Lord.
12 But many of the priests and the Levites, and the elder men, heads of families, who had seen the former house on its foundation, and [who saw] this house with their eyes, wept with a loud voice; but the multitude shouted with joy to raise a song.
13 And the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard even from afar off.
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.
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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.