« | Isaiah 3 | » |
1 See, the Lord, the Lord God of All, is going to take away from Jerusalem and Judah all they have to keep themselves alive and safe, all the bread and all the water.
2 He will take away the strong man, the man of war, the man who judges, the man who tells what will happen in the future, the man who uses secret ways, and the leader.
3 He will take away the captain of fifty, the man of honor, the wise man, the able workman, and the one who uses secret powers.
4 I will make boys their rulers. Foolish children will rule over them.
5 The people will make it hard for each other. Each one will hurt the other, and each one will be hurt by his neighbor. The younger will show anger toward the older. And the man who is not respected will show anger toward the man of honor.
6 A man will take hold of his brother in his father's house, saying, "You have a coat. You will be our ruler. This destroyed city will be under your rule."
7 In that day he will call out, "I can not be of help to you. For in my house there is no bread or coat. You should not choose me to be ruler of the people."
8 For Jerusalem has no strength, and Judah has fallen, because their speaking and their actions are against the Lord. They have turned against His shining-greatness.
9 The look on their faces speaks against them. They show their sin like Sodom. They do not even hide it. It is bad for them! For they have brought trouble upon themselves.
10 Tell those who are right and good that it will go well for them. For they will enjoy the fruit of what they do.
11 It will be bad for the sinful man! It will not go well for him, for what he has done will be done to him.
12 O My people! Children make it hard for them. And women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you in the wrong way. You do not know which path to take.
13 The Lord is ready to say what He thinks and stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord judges the leaders and rulers of His people: "It is you who have destroyed the grape-field. What had belonged to the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the faces of the poor?" says the Lord God of All.
16 The Lord said, "The daughters of Zion are proud. They walk with heads held high and a wrong desire in their eyes. They walk with short steps, making noise with the chains on their ankles.
17 So the Lord will make sores come upon the heads of the daugh-ters of Zion, and take the hair from their head.
18 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their ankle chains, headbands, moon-like objects,
19 rings worn on their ears and arms, face-coverings,
20 headdresses, leg-chains, wide belts, perfume boxes, objects with secret powers,
21 finger rings, nose rings,
22 bright clothing, coats, money-bags,
23 hand mirrors,underclothes, head-coverings, and face-coverings.
24 Instead of sweet perfume there will be a bad smell. Instead of a belt there will be a rope. Instead of well set hair there will be no hair. Instead of fine clothes they will wear cloth made from hair. And there will be burnt marks instead of beauty.
25 Your men will fall by the sword. Your strong ones will fall in battle.
26 Jerusalem's gates will be filled with sorrow. She will sit on the ground, laid waste and empty.
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.