« | Isaiah 22 | » |
1 The word of the valley of Zion. What has happened to you, that you now are all going up to the housetops, which help you not?
2 The city is filled with shouting; your slain are not slain with swords, nor are your dead those who have died in battle.
3 All your princes have fled, and [your] captives are tightly bound, and the mighty [men] in you have fled far away.
4 Therefore I said, Let me alone, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the breach of the daughter of my people.
5 For [it is] a day of trouble, and of destruction, and of treading down, and [there is] perplexity [sent] from the Lord of hosts; they wander in the valley of Zion; they wander from the least to the greatest on the mountains.
6 And the Elamites took [their] quivers, and [there were] men mounted on horses, and [there was] a gathering for battle.
7 And it shall be [that] your choice valleys shall be filled with chariots, and horsemen shall block up your gates.
8 And they shall uncover the gates of Judah, and they shall look in that day on the choice houses of the city.
9 And they shall uncover the secret places of the houses of the citadel of David; and they saw that they were many, and that one [had] turned the water of the old pool into the city;
10 and that they [had] pulled down the houses of Jerusalem, to fortify the wall of the city.
11 And you procured to yourselves water between the two walls within the ancient pool; but you looked not to Him that made it from the beginning, and regarded not Him that created it.
12 And the Lord, the Lord of hosts, called in that day for weeping, and lamentation, and baldness, and for girding with sackcloth;
13 but they engaged in joy and gladness, slaying calves, and killing sheep, so as to eat flesh, and drink wine; saying, Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.
14 And these things are revealed in the ears of the Lord of hosts; for this sin shall not be forgiven you, until you die.
15 Thus says the Lord of hosts, Go into the chamber, to Shebna the treasurer, and say to him, Why are you here?
16 And what have you to do here, that you have hewn yourself a tomb, and made yourself a tomb on high, and have graven for yourself a dwelling in the rock?
17 Behold now, the Lord of hosts casts forth and will utterly destroy [such] a man, and will take away your robe and your glorious crown,
18 and will cast you into a great and unmeasured land, and there you shall die; and He will bring your fair chariot to shame, and the house of your prince to be trodden down.
19 And you shall be removed from your stewardship, and from your place.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;
21 and I will put on him your robe, and I will grant him your crown with power, and I will give your stewardship into his hands; and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to them that dwell in Judah.
22 And I will give him the glory of David; and he shall rule, and there shall be none to speak against him; and I will give him the key of the house of David [upon] his shoulder. And he shall open, and there shall be none to shut; and he shall shut, and there shall be none to open.
23 And I will make him a ruler in a sure place, and he shall be for a glorious throne in his father's house.
24 And everyone that is glorious in the house of his father shall trust in him, from the least to the greatest; and they shall depend upon him in that day.
25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, The man that is fastened in the sure place shall be removed and be taken away, and shall fall; and the glory that is upon him shall be utterly destroyed; for the Lord has spoken it.
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.