« | Isaiah 57 | » |
1 See how the just man has perished, and no one lays [it] to heart; and righteous men are taken away, and no one considers; for the righteous has been removed out of the way of injustice.
2 His burial shall be in peace; he has been removed out of the way.
3 But draw nearby, you lawless children, the seed of adulterers and the harlot.
4 Against whom have you been rioting? And against whom have you opened your mouth, and against whom have you loosed your tongue? Are you not children of perdition? A lawless seed?
5 Who call upon idols under the leafy trees, slaying your children in the valleys among the rocks?
6 That is your portion, this is your lot; and to them have you poured forth drink offerings, and to these have you offered meat offerings. Shall I not therefore be angry for these things?
7 On a lofty and high mountain, there is your bed, and from there you carried up your meat offerings;
8 and behind the posts of your door did you placed your memorials. Did you think that if you should depart from Me, you would gain? You have loved those that lay with you;
9 and you have multiplied your whoredom with them, and you have increased the number of them that are far from you, and have sent ambassadors beyond your borders, and have been debased, even to hell.
10 You have wearied yourself with your many ways; yet you said not, I will cease to strengthen myself; for you have done these things; therefore you have not supplicated Me.
11 Through dread of whom have you feared, and lied against Me, and have not remembered, nor considered Me, nor regarded Me; yea, though when I see you I pass them by, yet you have not feared Me.
12 And I will declare your righteousness, and your sins, which shall not profit you.
13 When you cry out, let them deliver you in your affliction; for all these the wind shall take, and the tempest shall carry [them] away; but they that cleave to Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain.
14 And they shall say, Clear the ways before him, and take up the stumbling blocks out of the way of My people.
15 Thus says the Most High, who dwells on high forever, Holy in the holies is His name, the Most High resting in the holies, and giving patience to the faint-hearted, and giving life to the broken-hearted;
16 I will not take vengeance on you forever, neither will I be always angry with you; for My Spirit shall go forth from Me, and I have created all breath.
17 On account of sin for a little while I grieved him and struck him, and turned away My face from him; and he was grieved, and he went on sorrowful in his ways.
18 I have seen his ways, and healed him, and comforted him, and given him true comfort;
19 peace upon peace to them that are far off, and to them that are close by; and the Lord has said, I will heal them.
20 But the unrighteous shall be tossed as troubled waves, and shall not be able to rest.
21 There is no peace, says God, for the wicked.
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.