« | Hosea 9 | » |
1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like [other] peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love [for] hire on every threshing floor.
2 The threshing floor and the winepress Shall not feed them, And the new wine shall fail in her.
3 They shall not dwell in the LORD's land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.
4 They shall not offer wine [offerings] to the LORD, Nor shall their sacrifices be pleasing to Him. [It shall be] like bread of mourners to them; All who eat it shall be defiled. For their bread [shall be] for their [own] life; It shall not come into the house of the LORD.
5 What will you do in the appointed day, And in the day of the feast of the LORD?
6 For indeed they are gone because of destruction. Egypt shall gather them up; Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their valuables of silver; Thorns [shall be] in their tents.
7 The days of punishment have come; The days of recompense have come. Israel knows! The prophet [is] a fool, The spiritual man [is] insane, Because of the greatness of your iniquity and great enmity.
8 The watchman of Ephraim [is] with my God; But the prophet [is] a fowler's snare in all his ways -- Enmity in the house of his God.
9 They are deeply corrupted, As in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity; He will punish their sins.
10 " I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. [But] they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves [to that] shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.
11 [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird -- No birth, no pregnancy, and no conception!
12 Though they bring up their children, Yet I will bereave them to the last man. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!
13 Just as I saw Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place, So Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer."
14 Give them, O LORD -- What will You give? Give them a miscarrying womb And dry breasts!
15 "All their wickedness [is] in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more. All their princes [are] rebellious.
16 Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb."
17 My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.