« | Isaiah 33 | » |
1 Woe to the destroyer, and you who have not been destroyed; and betrayer, and they have not betrayed you. When you stop destroying, you shall be destroyed. When you stop betraying, they shall betray you.
2 O Jehovah, be gracious to us; we have waited for You; be their arm in the mornings; our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of Yourself the nations were scattered.
4 And your spoil shall be gathered as the stripping locust gathers; as the running to and fro of locusts he shall run on them.
5 Jehovah is exalted, for He dwells on high. He has filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6 And He will be the security of your times, and strength of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of Jehovah is his treasure.
7 Behold, their mighty ones shall cry outside; the messengers of peace shall weep bitterly.
8 The highways lie waste, the traveler ceases. He has broken the covenant. He has despised the cities. He cared for no man.
9 The earth mourns and droops. Lebanon is ashamed; Sharon withers like a wilderness; Bashan and Carmel are shaken out.
10 Now I will rise, says Jehovah; now I will be exalted; now I will lift up Myself.
11 You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring out stubble; your breath, like fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; like thorns cut up, they shall be burned in the fire.
13 You who are far off, hear what I have done; and you near ones, know My might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; terror has surprised profane ones. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands free from holding bribes, who stops his ear from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil;
16 He shall dwell on high; his refuge shall be the strongholds of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
17 Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.
18 Your heart shall dwell on terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the one weighing? Where is the one counting the towers?
19 You shall not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than you can understand; of a foreign tongue that no one understands.
20 Look on Zion, the city of our holy meetings; your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet home, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, nor shall any of its cords be broken.
21 But there the glorious Jehovah will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars shall go, nor shall mighty ship pass by it.
22 For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; He will save us.
23 Your ropes are loosened, they do not hold the base of the mast; they could not spread the sail. Then the prey of a great spoil shall be divided; the lame take the prey.
24 And an inhabitant, the people who live in it shall not say, I am sick; iniquity is taken away.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.