« | Isaiah 42 | » |
1 Jacob is My servant, I will help him; Israel is My elect, My soul has accepted him; I have put My Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up [his voice], nor shall his voice be heard without.
3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench; but he shall bring forth judgment to truth.
4 He shall shine out, and shall not be discouraged, until he has set judgment on the earth; and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
5 Thus says the Lord God, who made the heaven, and established it; who settled the earth, and the things in it, and gives breath to the people in it, and spirit to them that tread on it;
6 I, the Lord God, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will strengthen you; and I have given you for the covenant of a race, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 to open the eyes of the blind, to bring the bound and them that sit in darkness out of bonds and the prison house.
8 I am the Lord God; that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praises to graven images.
9 Behold, the ancient things have come to pass, and [so will] the new things which I tell you; yes, before I declare [them] they are made known to you.
10 Sing a new hymn to the Lord; you [who are] His dominion, glorify His name from the ends of the earth; you that go down to the sea, and sail upon it; the islands, and they that dwell in them.
11 Rejoice, you wilderness, and the villages thereof, the hamlets, and the dwellers in Kedar; the inhabitants of the rock shall rejoice, they shall shout from the top of the mountains.
12 They shall give glory to God, [and] shall proclaim His praises in the islands.
13 The Lord God of hosts shall go forth, and crush the war; He shall stir up jealousy, and shall shout mightily against His enemies.
14 I have been silent; shall I also always be silent and forbear; I have endured like a travailing [woman]; I will [now] amaze and wither at once.
15 I will make desolate mountains and hills, and will dry up all their grass; and I will make the rivers islands, and dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and I will cause them to tread paths which they have not known; I will turn darkness into light for them, and crooked things into straight. These things will I do, and will not forsake them.
17 But they are turned back; be utterly ashamed, you that trust in graven [images], who say to the molten [images], You are our gods.
18 Hear, you deaf, and look up, you blind, to see.
19 And who is blind, but My servants? And [who is] deaf, but those that rule over them? Yes, the servants of God have been made blind.
20 You have often seen, and have not taken heed; [your] ears have been opened, and you have not heard.
21 The Lord God has taken counsel that He might be justified, and might magnify [His] praise.
22 And I beheld, and the people were spoiled and plundered; for [there is] a snare in the secret chambers everywhere, and in the houses also, where they have hidden them; they became a spoil, and there was no one that delivered the prey, and there was none who said, Restore.
23 Who [is there] among you that will give ear to these things? Hearken to the things which are coming to pass.
24 For what did He give Jacob up to spoil, and Israel to them that plundered him? Did not God [do it] against whom they sinned? [And] they would not walk in His ways, nor hearken to His law.
25 So He brought upon them the fury of His wrath; and the war, and those that burned round about them, prevailed against them; yet none of them knew [it], neither did they take [it] to heart.
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.