« | Isaiah 7 | » |
1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to make war against Jerusalem. But they could not win the battle.
2 When the family of David was told, "Syria has joined with Ephraim," his heart and the hearts of his people shook as trees shake with the wind.
3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Now you and your son Shear-jashub go out to meet Ahaz at the end of the ditch of the upper pool on the road to the Fuller's Field.
4 Say to him, 'Be careful and quiet. Do not be afraid or weak in your heart because of these two pieces of burnt and smoking wood. Do not be afraid of the burning anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.
5 Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, have made sinful plans against you, saying,
6 "Let us go up against Judah and make the people very afraid. Let us break open its walls, and make the son of Tabeel its king."
7 But the Lord God says, "This plan will not work. It will not happen.
8 For the head of Syria is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within another sixty-five years Ephraim will be destroyed so that it is no longer a people.)
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria. And the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, for sure you will not last." ' "
10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11 "Ask for something special to see from the Lord your God. Ask for it to be as deep as the place of the dead or as high as heaven."
12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask. I will not test the Lord."
13 Then Isaiah said, "Listen now, O people of David! Is it too small a thing for you to test men, that you will test my God as well?
14 So the Lord Himself will give you a special thing to see: A young woman, who has never had a man, will give birth to a son. She will give Him the name Immanuel.
15 He will eat milk and honey when He knows enough to have nothing to do with wrong-doing and chooses good.
16 For before the boy knows to turn away from what is bad and choose good, the land whose two kings you are afraid of will be left empty."
17 The Lord will bring upon you and your people and your father's house such days as have never come since the day that Ephraim was divided from Judah. He is going to bring the king of Assyria on you.
18 In that day the Lord will call for flies that are in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, and for bees that are in the land of Assyria.
19 They will all come and stay in the narrow valleys, on the hill-sides, on the thorn bushes, and in the fields.
20 In that day the Lord will use the king of Assyria from the other side of the Euphrates to cut off the hair from your head, your legs, and your face.
21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep.
22 And because they give much milk, he will have all he can use. For everyone who is left in the land will have milk and honey to eat.
23 In that day, every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand pieces of silver, will be thistles and thorns.
24 Men will go there with bows and arrows because all the land will be covered with thistles and thorns.
25 As for all the hills which used to be cared for as a garden, you will not go there for fear of thistles and thorns.They will become a place where cattle feed and where sheep will run.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.