« | Hebrews 3 | » |
1 Christian brothers, you have been chosen and set apart by God. So let us think about Jesus. He is the One God sent and He is the Religious Leader of our Christian faith.
2 Jesus was faithful in God's house just as Moses was faithful in all of God's house.
3 The man who builds a house gets more honor than the house. That is why Jesus gets more honor than Moses.
4 Every house is built by someone. And God is the One Who has built everything.
5 Moses was a faithful servant owned by God in God's house. He spoke of the things that would be told about later on.
6 But Christ was faithful as a Son Who is Head of God's house. We are of God's house if we keep our trust in the Lord until the end. This is our hope.
7 The Holy Spirit says, "If you hear His voice today,
8 do not let your hearts become hard as your early fathers did when they turned against Me. It was at that time in the desert when they put Me to the test.
9 Your early fathers tempted Me and tried Me. They saw the work I did for forty years.
10 For this reason, I was angry with the people of this day. And I said to them, 'They always think wrong thoughts. They have never understood what I have tried to do for them.'
11 I was angry with them and said to Myself, 'They will never go into My rest.' " (Psalm 95:7-11)
12 Christian brothers, be careful that not one of you has a heart so bad that it will not believe and will turn away from the living God.
13 Help each other. Speak day after day to each other while it is still today so your heart will not become hard by being fooled by sin.
14 For we belong to Christ if we keep on trusting Him to the end just as we trusted Him at first.
15 The Holy Writings say, "If you hear His voice today, do not let your hearts become hard as your early fathers did when they turned against Me." (Psalm 95:7-8)
16 Who heard God's voice and turned against Him? Did not all those who were led out of the country of Egypt by Moses?
17 Who made God angry for forty years? Was it not those people who had sinned in the desert? Was it not those who died and were buried there?
18 Who did He say could never go into His rest? Was it not those who did not obey Him?
19 So we can see that they were not able to go into His rest because they did not put their trust in Him.
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.