« | Isaiah 38 | » |
1 And it came to pass at that time, [that] Hezekiah was sick, even to death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, Thus says the Lord, Give orders concerning your house; for you shall die, and not live.
2 And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,
3 Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before You in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, Go and say to Hezekiah,
5 Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, and have seen your tears; behold, I [will] add to your days fifteen years.
6 And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians; and I will defend this city.
7 And this [shall be] a sign to you from the Lord, that God will do this thing:
8 Behold, I will turn back the shadow of the degrees [of the sundial] by ten degrees on the house of your father. I will turn back the sun the ten degrees; so the sun went back the ten degrees by which the shadow had gone down.
9 The prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered from his sickness:.
10 I said in the end of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave; I shall part with the remainder of my years.
11 I said, I shall no more see the salvation of God in the land of the living; I shall no more see the salvation of Israel on the earth; I shall no more see man.
12 [My life] has failed from among my kindred; I have parted with the remainder of my life; it has gone forth and departed from me, as one that has pitched a tent takes it down [again]; my breath was with me as a weaver's web, when she that weaves draws near to cut off [the] thread.
13 In that day I was given up as to a lion until the morning; so has He broken all my bones; for I was so given up from day [even] to night.
14 As a swallow, so will I cry, and as a dove, so do I mourn; for my eyes have failed from looking to the height of heaven to the Lord, who has delivered me,
15 and removed the sorrow of my soul.
16 [Yea], O Lord, for it was told You concerning this; and You have revived my breath; and I am comforted, and live.
17 For You have chosen my soul, that it should not perish; and You have cast all [my] sins behind me.
18 For they that are in the grave shall not praise You, neither shall the dead bless You, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for Your mercy.
19 The living shall bless You, as I also [do]; for from this day shall I beget children, who shall declare Your righteousness,
20 O God of my salvation; and I will not cease [from] blessing You with the psaltery all the days of my life before the house of God.
21 Now Isaiah had said to Hezekiah; Take a cake of figs, and mash them, and apply them as a plaster, and you shall be well.
22 And Hezekiah said, This is a sign to Hezekiah, that I shall go up to the house of God.
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.