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1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the cattle that were with him in the large boat. Then God made a wind blow over the earth until the water went down.
2 Also the wells of water under the earth and the windows of the heavens were shut. And it stopped raining.
3 The water kept moving away from the earth. At the end of 150 days the water was less.
4 And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the large boat came to rest on Mount Ararat.
5 The water kept on going down until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.
6 At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the large boat which he had made.
7 Then he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.
8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was gone from the ground.
9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, so she returned to him in the boat. For the water was still over the earth. So Noah put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the boat with him.
10 He waited another seven days, and sent the dove from the boat again.
11 The dove returned to him in the evening. In her mouth was an olive leaf that had just been picked. So Noah knew that the water had gone from the earth.
12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove. But she did not return to him again.
13 In the year 601, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah took the covering off the large boat, and looked out and saw that the earth was dry.
14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the ground was dry.
15 Then God said to Noah,
16 "Go out of the boat, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and everything that moves on the earth. So they may give birth and become many upon the earth."
18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
19 Every animal, every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the large boat by their families.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took of every clean animal and every clean bird, and gave burnt gifts in worship on the altar.
21 Then the Lord smelled a pleasing smell. And the Lord said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of man. For the desire of man's heart is sinful from when he is young. I will never again destroy every living thing as I have done.
22 While the earth lasts, planting time and gathering time, cold and heat, summer and win-ter, and day and night will not end."
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.