« | Genesis 46 | » |
1 So Israel traveled with all he had to Beersheba. There he gave gifts to the God of his father Isaac.
2 God spoke to Israel in special dreams in the night, saying, "Jacob, Jacob." And Jacob answered, "Here I am."
3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. For I will make you a great nation there.
4 I will go with you to Egypt. I will bring you out again. And Joseph's hand will close your eyes."
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 They took their animals and all the things they owned from the land of Canaan. And they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his children with him,
7 his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters. He brought all his children with him to Egypt.
8 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,
9 and Reuben's sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvvah, Iob, and Shimron.
14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
15 These are the sons who were born to Leah and Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah. He had thirty-three sons and daughters.
16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
17 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.
18 These are the sons of Jacob and Zilpah, the woman whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to sixteen of Jacob's children.
19 The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
20 The sons of Joseph in the land of Egypt were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the religious leader of On.
21 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
22 These are the sons of Jacob and Rachel, fourteen sons in all.
23 Dan's son was Hushim.
24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
25 These are the sons of Jacob and Bilhah, the woman whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. There were seven sons in all.
26 All the people who came to Egypt with Jacob, the children of his own body, were sixty-six people in all. Added to this were the wives of Jacob's sons.
27 Two sons were born to Joseph in Egypt. So all the people of Jacob's family when he came to Egypt were seventy.
28 Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to learn the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen.
29 Then Joseph made his wagon ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. When he came to him, they put their arms around each other and cried for a long time.
30 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."
31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's family, "I will go and tell Pharaoh, 'My brothers and my father's family have come to me from the land of Canaan.
32 And the men are shepherds, for they have taken care of animals. They have brought their flocks and cattle and all they have.'
33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your work?'
34 you answer, 'Your servants have taken care of cat-tle since we were young, both we and our fathers.' Then he will let you live in the land of Goshen. For the Egyptians look down upon every shepherd."
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.