« | Genesis 17 | » |
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am your God, be well-pleasing before Me, and be blameless.
2 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell upon his face, and God spoke to him, saying,
4 And I, behold! My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of a many nations.
5 And your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
6 And I will increase you very exceedingly, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.
7 And I will establish My covenant between you and your seed after you, to their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be your God, and the God of your seed after you.
8 And I will give to you and to your seed after you the land in which you sojourn, even all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them a God.
9 And God said to Abraham, You also shall fully keep My covenant, you and your seed after you for their generations.
10 And this is the covenant which you shall fully keep between Me and you, and between your seed after you for their generations; every male of you shall be circumcised.
11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and you.
12 And the child of eight days old shall be circumcised by you, every male throughout your generations, and the servant born in the house and he that is bought with money, of every son of a stranger, who is not of your seed.
13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with money shall surely be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised male, who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his family, for he has broken My covenant.
15 And God said to Abraham, Sarai, your wife- her name shall not be called Sarai, [but] Sarah shall be her name.
16 And I will bless her, and give you a son by her, and I will bless him, and he shall become nations, and kings of nations shall be of him.
17 And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed; and said in his heart, Shall there be a child to one who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear [a child]?
18 And Abraham said to God, Let this Ismael live before You.
19 And God said to Abraham, Yea, behold, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to him and to his seed after him.
20 And concerning Ishmael, behold, I have heard you, and behold, I have blessed him, and will increase him and multiply him exceedingly; twelve nations shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time, in the next year.
22 And He left off speaking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all his home-born servants, and all those bought with money, and every male of the men in the house of Abraham, and he circumcised their foreskins in the time of that day, according as God spoke to him.
24 And Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 And at the period of that day, Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son,
27 and all the men of his house, both those born in the house, and those bought with money of foreign nations.
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.