« | Hosea 4 | » |
1 Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel: for the Lord [has] a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 Cursing, and lying, and murder, and theft, and adultery bound in the land, and they mingle blood with blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and shall be diminished with all that dwell in it, with the wild beasts of the field, and the reptiles of the earth, and with the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea shall fail:
4 that neither anyone may plead, nor any one reprove [another]; but My people are as a priest spoken against.
5 Therefore they shall fall by day, and the prophet with you shall fall: I have compared your mother unto night.
6 My people are like as if they had no knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you, that you shall not minister as priest unto Me: and [as] you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
7 According to their multitude, so they sinned against Me: I will turn their glory into shame.
8 They will devour the sins of My people, and will set their hearts on their iniquities.
9 And the priest shall be as the people: and I will avenge on them their ways, and I will recompense to them their counsels.
10 And they shall eat, and shall not be satisfied: they have gone a-whoring, and shall by no means prosper: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord.
11 The heart of My people has gladly engaged in fornication and wine and strong drink.
12 They asked counsel by [means of] signs, and they reported answer to them by their staves: they have gone astray in a spirit of harlotry, and gone grievously a-whoring from their God.
13 They have sacrificed on the tops of the mountains, and on the hills they have sacrificed under the oak and poplar, and under the shady tree, because the shade was good: therefore your daughters shall go a-whoring, and your daughters-in-law shall commit adultery.
14 And I will not visit upon your daughters when they shall commit fornication, nor your daughters-in-law when they shall commit adultery: for they themselves mingled themselves with harlots, and sacrificed with polluted ones, and the people that understood not entangled itself with a harlot.
15 But you, O Israel, be not ignorant, and go not to Gilgal, O [men of] Judah, and go not up to the house of On, and swear not by the living Lord.
16 For Israel was maddened like a mad heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a wide place.
17 Ephraim, joined with idols, has laid stumbling blocks in his own way.
18 He has chosen the Canaanites: they have grievously gone a-whoring: they have loved dishonor through her insolence.
19 You are a blast of wind in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their altars.
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.