« | Isaiah 3 | » |
1 Behold now, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the mighty man and mighty woman, the strength of bread, and the strength of water,
2 the great and mighty man, the warrior and the judge, the prophet, the counselor, and the elder,
3 the captain of fifty also, and the honorable counselor, and the wise artificer, and the intelligent hearer.
4 And I will make youths their princes, and mockers shall have dominion over them.
5 And the people shall fall, man upon man, and [every] man upon his neighbor; the child shall insult the elder man, and the base [toward] the honorable.
6 For a man shall lay hold of his brother, as one of his father's household, saying, You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let my food be under your [power].
7 And he shall answer in that day, and say, I will not be your ruler; for I have no bread in my house, nor clothing; I will not be the ruler of this people.
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah has fallen, and their tongues [have spoken] with iniquity, disobedient [as they are] towards the Lord.
9 Wherefore now their glory has been brought low, and the shame of their countenance has withstood them, and they have proclaimed their sin as Sodom, and made it manifest.
10 Woe to their soul, for they have devised an evil counsel against themselves, saying against themselves, Let us bind the just, for he is burdensome to us; therefore shall they eat the fruits of their works.
11 Woe to the transgressor! Evils shall happen to him according to the works of his hands.
12 O My people, your exactors strip you, and extortioners rule over you; O My people, they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray, and pervert the path of your feet.
13 But now the Lord will stand up for judgment, and will enter into judgment with His people.
14 The Lord Himself shall enter into judgment with the elders of the people, and with their rulers; but why have you set My vineyard on fire, and [why is] the spoil of the poor in your houses?
15 Why do you wrong My people, and shame the face of the poor?
16 Thus says the Lord, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and have walked with an outstretched neck, and winking with their eyes, and jingling with their feet, at the same time drawing their garments in trains, and at the same time sporting with their feet;
17 therefore the Lord will humble the chief daughters of Zion, and the Lord will expose their form in that day;
18 and the Lord will take away the glory of their garments, the curls and the fringes, and the crescents,
19 and the chains, and the ornaments of their faces,
20 and the array of glorious ornaments, and the armlets, and the bracelets, and the wreathed work, and the finger rings, and the ornaments for the right hand,
21 and the earrings, and the garments with scarlet borders,
22 and the garments with purple grounds, and the shawls to be worn in the house, and the Spartan transparent dresses,
23 and those made of fine linen, and the purple [ones], and the scarlet [ones], and the fine linen, interwoven with gold and purple, and the light coverings for couches.
24 And instead of a sweet smell there shall be dust; and instead of a sash, you shall gird yourself with a rope; and instead of a golden ornament for your head, you shall have baldness on account of your works; and instead of a tunic with a scarlet ground, you shall gird yourself with sackcloth.
25 And your most beautiful son whom you love shall fall by the sword; and your mighty men shall fall by the sword, and shall be brought low.
26 And the stores of your ornaments shall mourn, and you shall be left alone, and shall be leveled to the ground.
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.