« | Genesis 6 | » |
1 When men became many in number on the earth, and daughters were born to them,
2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. And they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
3 Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not stay in man forever, for he is flesh. But yet he will live for 120 years."
4 Very large men were on the earth in those days, and later also, when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, who gave birth to their children. These were the powerful men of long ago, men of much strength.
5 Then the Lord saw that man was very sinful on the earth. Every plan and thought of the heart of man was sinful always.
6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth. He had sorrow in His heart.
7 So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have made from the land, man and animals, things that move upon the earth and birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
9 This is the story of Noah and his family. Noah was right with God. He was without blame in his time. Noah walked with God.
10 And Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now the earth was sinful in the eyes of God. The earth was filled with people hurting each other.
12 God looked at the earth and saw how sinful it was. For all who lived on the earth had become sinful in their ways.
13 Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to make an end to all the people on the earth. They are the cause of very much trouble. See, I will destroy them as I destroy the earth.
14 Make a large boat of gopher wood for yourself. Build rooms in the boat. And cover it inside and out with tar.
15 This is how you are to make it: The boat is to be as long as 150 long steps, as wide as twenty-five long steps, and eight times taller than a man.
16 Make a window for the boat, that goes down an arm's length from the roof. Put a door in the side of the boat. And make it with first, second, and third floors.
17 See, I will bring a flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh under heaven that has the breath of life. Everything on earth will be destroyed.
18 But I will make My agreement with you. You will go into the large boat, you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
19 You are to bring into the large boat two of every kind of living thing of all flesh, to keep them alive with you. They will be male and female.
20 Two of all the kinds of birds, and animals, and every thing that moves on the ground are to be with you to keep them alive.
21 And take with you every kind of ood that is eaten, and store it. It will be food for you and for them."
22 Noah did just what God told him to do.
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.