« | Isaiah 41 | » |
1 Hold a feast to Me, you islands; for the princes shall renew [their] strength; let them draw near and speak together; then let them declare judgment.
2 Who raised up righteousness from the east, [and] called it to His feet, so that it should go? [Who] shall appoint [it] as an adversary of Gentiles, and shall dismay kings, and bury their swords in the earth, and cast forth their bows and arrows as sticks?
3 And he shall pursue them; the way of his feet shall proceed in peace.
4 Who has performed and done these things? He has called it who called it from the generations of old; I God, the first and to [all] futurity, I AM.
5 The nations saw, and feared; the ends of the earth drew near, and came together,
6 everyone judging for his neighbor and [that] to assist his brother; and one will say,
7 The artificer has become strong, and the coppersmith that smites with the hammer, [and] forges also; sometimes he will say, It is a piece well joined; they have fastened them with nails; they will fix them, and they shall not be moved.
8 But you, O Israel, are My servant Jacob, and he whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, whom I have loved;
9 whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and from the high places of it I have called you, and said to you, You are My servant; I have chosen you, and I have not forsaken you.
10 Fear not; for I am with you; wander not; for I am your God, who has strengthened you; and I have helped you, and have established you with My righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all your adversaries shall be ashamed and confounded; for they shall be as if they were not; and all your opponents shall perish.
12 You shall seek them, and you shall not find the men who shall insolently rage against you; for they shall be as if they were not, and they that war against you shall not be.
13 For I am your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you,
14 Fear not, Jacob, [and you] Israel few in number; I have helped you, says your God, He that redeems you, O Israel.
15 Behold, I have made you as new saw-shaped threshing wheels of a wagon; and you shall thresh the mountains, and beat the hills to powder, and make [them] as chaff;
16 and you shall winnow [them], and the wind shall carry them away, and a tempest shall scatter them; but you shall rejoice in the holy ones of Israel.
17 And the poor and the needy shall rejoice; for [when] they shall seek water, and there shall be none, [and] their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord God, I the God of Israel will hear, and will not forsake them;
18 but I will open rivers on the mountains, and fountains in the midst of plains; I will make the desert pools of water, and a thirsty land watercourses.
19 I will plant in the dry land the cedar and box, the myrtle and cypress, and white poplar;
20 that they may see, and know, and perceive, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done these [works], and the Holy One of Israel has displayed [them].
21 Your judgment draws near, says the Lord God; your counsel has drawn near, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them draw near, and declare to you what things shall come to pass; or tell [us] what things were of old, and we will apply [our] understanding, and we shall know what are the last and the future things;
23 tell us, declare to us the things that are coming on at the last [time], and we shall know that you are gods; do good, and do evil, and we shall wonder, and see at the same time
24 where you are, and where your works are; they have chosen you an abomination out of the earth.
25 But I have raised up him that [comes] from the north, and him that [comes] from the rising of the sun; they shall be called by My name; let the princes come, and as potter's clay, and as a potter treading clay, so shall you be trodden down.
26 For who will declare the things from the beginning, that we may know also the former things, and we will say that they are true? There is no one that speaks beforehand, nor anyone that hears your words.
27 I will give dominion to Zion, and will comfort Jerusalem by the way.
28 For from among the nations, behold, [there was] no one; and of their idols there was none to declare [anything]; and if I should ask them, Where are you from? They could not answer Me.
29 For [these] are your makers, [as you think], and they that cause you to err in vain.
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.