« | Isaiah 40 | » |
1 Comfort, yes, comfort My people, says [your] God.
2 Speak, you priests, to the heart of Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation is accomplished, her sin is put away; for she has received of the Lord's hand double [for] her sins.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God.
4 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and all the crooked [ways] shall become straight, and the rough [places] smooth.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God; for the Lord has spoken [it].
6 The voice of one saying, Cry; and I said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
7 [This translation omits this verse.]
8 The grass withers, and the flower fades; but the word of our God abides forever.
9 O you that brings glad tidings to Zion, go up on the high mountain; lift up your voice with strength, you that brings glad tidings to Jerusalem; lift it up, fear not; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold the Lord! The Lord is coming with strength, and [His] arm is with power; behold, His reward is with Him, and [His] work before Him.
11 He shall tend His flock as a shepherd, and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and He shall soothe them that are with young.
12 Who has measured the water in His hand, and the heaven with a span, and all the earth in a handful? Who has weighed the mountains in scales, and the forests in a balance?
13 Who has known the mind of the Lord? And who has been His counselor, to instruct Him?
14 Or with whom has He taken counsel, and he has instructed Him? Or who has taught Him judgment, or who has taught Him the way of understanding;
15 since all the nations are counted as a drop from a bucket, and as the turning of a balance, [and] shall be counted as spittle?
16 And Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor all beasts enough for a whole burnt offering;
17 and all the nations are as nothing, and counted as nothing.
18 To whom have you compared the Lord? And with what likeness have you compared Him?
19 Has not the artificer made an image, or the goldsmith having melted gold, guilded it over, [and] made it a similitude?
20 For the artificer chooses out a wood that will not rot, and will wisely inquire how he shall set up his image, and [that so] that it should not be moved.
21 Will you not know? Will you not hear? Has it not been told to you of old? Have you not known the foundations of the earth?
22 [It is] He that comprehends the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants in it are as grasshoppers; He that set up the heaven as a chamber, and stretched [it] out as a tent to dwell in;
23 He that appoints princes to rule as nothing, and has made the earth as nothing.
24 For they shall not plant, neither shall they sow, neither shall their root be fixed in the ground; He has blown upon them, and they have withered, and a storm shall carry them away like sticks.
25 Now then to whom have you compared Me, that I may be exalted? Says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see, who has displayed all these things? [Even] He that brings forth His host by number; He shall call them all by name by [means of His] great glory, and by the power of His might; nothing has escaped you.
27 For do not say, O Jacob, and why have you spoken, O Israel, [saying], My way is hid from God, and my God has taken away [my] judgment, and has departed?
28 And now, have you not known? Have you not heard? The eternal God, the God that formed the ends of the earth, shall not hunger, nor be weary, and there is no searching of His understanding.
29 He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to them that are not suffering.
30 For the young [men] shall hunger, and the youths shall be weary, and the choice [men] shall be powerless;
31 but they that wait on God shall renew [their] strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
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.