« | Isaiah 8 | » |
1 And the Lord said to me, Take to yourself a volume of a great new [book], and write in it with a man's pen concerning the making a rapid plunder of spoils; for it is close at hand.
2 And make for Me witnesses [among] faithful men, Uriah, and Zechariah the son of Berechiah.
3 And I went in to the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. And the Lord said to me, Call his name, Spoil Quickly, Plunder Speedily.
4 For before the child shall know [how] to call [his] father or [his] mother, [one] shall take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria before the king of the Assyrians.
5 And the Lord spoke to me yet again, [saying],
6 Because this people chooses not the water of Siloam that goes softly, but wills to have Rezin, and the son of Remaliah [to be] king over you;
7 therefore behold, the Lord shall bring upon you the water of the river, strong and abundant, [even] the king of the Assyrians, and his glory; and he shall come up over every valley of yours, and shall walk over every wall of yours;
8 and he shall take away from Judah [every] man who shall be able to lift up his head, [and everyone] able to accomplish anything; and his camp shall fill the breadth of your land, [O] Immanuel.
9 Know, you Gentiles, and be conquered; listen, even to the extremity of the earth; be conquered, after you strengthened yourselves; for even if you should again strengthen yourselves, you shall again be conquered.
10 And whatever counsel you shall take, the Lord shall bring it to nought; and whatever word you shall speak, it shall not stand among you; for God is with us.
11 Thus says the Lord, With a strong hand they revolt from the course of the way of this people, saying,
12 Let them not say, [It is] hard, for whatsoever this people says, is hard; but do not fear their fear, neither be dismayed.
13 Sanctify the Lord Himself; and He shall be your fear.
14 And if you shall trust in Him, He shall be to you for a sanctuary; and you shall not come against [Him] as against a stumbling stone, neither as against the falling of a rock; but the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and those who dwell in Jerusalem are in a pit.
15 Therefore many among them shall be weak and fall, and be crushed; and they shall draw near, and men shall be taken securely.
16 Then those who seal themselves, that they may not learn the law, shall be made manifest.
17 And [one] shall say, I will wait for God, who has turned away His face from the house of Jacob, and I will trust in Him.
18 Behold I and the children which God has given me; and they shall be [for] signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.
19 And if they should say to you, Seek those who have in them a divining spirit, and them that speak out of the earth, them that speak vain words, who speak out of their belly; shall not a nation diligently seek their God? Why do they look to the dead concerning the living?
20 For He has given the law for a help, that they should not speak according to this word, concerning which there are no gifts to give for it.
21 And famine shall come sorely upon you, and it shall come to pass, [that] when you shall be hungry, you shall be grieved, and you shall speak evil of the prince and of your fathers' ordinances; and they shall look up to heaven above,
22 and they shall look on the earth below, and behold severe distress, and darkness, affliction, and anguish, and darkness so that [no one] can see; and he that is in anguish shall not be distressed only for a season.
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.