« | Genesis 21 | » |
1 And the Lord visited Sarah, as He said, and the Lord did to Sarah, as He spoke.
2 And she conceived and bore to Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time according as the Lord spoke to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him- whom Sarah bore to him- Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day, as God commanded him.
5 And Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac his son was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, The Lord has made laughter for me, for whoever shall hear shall rejoice with me.
7 And she said, Who shall say to Abraham that Sarah suckles a child? For I have born a child in my old age.
8 And the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the day that his son Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah, having seen the son of Hagar the Egyptian, who was born to Abraham, sporting with Isaac her son,
10 that she said to Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not inherit with my son Isaac.
11 But the word appeared very distressing before Abraham concerning his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, Let it not be distressing before you concerning the child, and concerning the bondwoman; whatever Sarah shall say to you, listen to her voice, for in Isaac shall your seed be called.
13 And moreover, I will make the son of this bondwoman a great nation, because he is your seed.
14 And Abraham rose up in the morning and took loaves and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, and he put the child on her shoulder, and sent her away, and she, having departed, wandered in the wilderness near the Well of the Oath.
15 And the water failed out of the skin, and she cast the child under a fir tree.
16 And she departed, and sat down opposite him at a distance, as it were about a bowshot, for she said, Surely I cannot see the death of my child: and she sat opposite him, and the child cried aloud and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the child from the place where he was, and an angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, What is it, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child from the place where he is.
18 Rise up, and take the child, and hold him in your hand, for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of springing water; and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the child a drink.
20 And God was with the child, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness, and his mother took him a wife out of Paran of Egypt.
22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech, and Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the chief captain of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you in all things, in all that you do.
23 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not injure me, nor my seed, nor my name, but according to the righteousness which I have performed with you, you shall deal with me, and with the land in which you have sojourned.
24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the wells of water, which the servants of Abimelech took away.
26 And Abimelech said to him, I know not who has done this thing to you, neither did you tell it to me, neither did I hear it until today.
27 And Abraham took sheep and calves, and gave them to Abimelech, and they both made a covenant.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, What are these seven ewe lambs which you have set alone?
30 And Abraham said, You shall receive the seven ewe lambs from me, that they may be for me as a witness, that I dug this well.
31 Therefore he named the name of that place, The Well of the Oath, for there they both swore.
32 And they made a covenant at the Well of the Oath. And there rose up Abimelech, Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the commander-in-chief of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.
33 And Abraham planted a field at the Well of the Oath, and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.
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.