« | Isaiah 8 | » |
1 Then the Lord said to me, "Take a large piece of stone and write on it in easy-to-read letters: 'They hurry to get what they can. They run to pick up what is left.' "
2 And I took men who could be trusted to watch the writing, Uriah the religious leader and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3 Then I went to the woman who spoke for God, and she was able to have a child, and gave birth to a son. Then the Lord said to me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hashbaz.
4 For before the boy knows how to cry out 'My father' or 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and everything of any worth in Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria."
5 The Lord spoke to me again, saying,
6 "These people have turned away from the gentle, flowing waters of Shiloah, and find joy in Rezin and the son of Remaliah.
7 So now, see, the Lord is ready to bring on them the strong and powerful waters of the Euphrates, the king of Assyria and all his greatness. It will rise up high and cause a flood.
8 Then it will flow into Judah. It will flood and pass through, and come up even to the neck. And the spread of its wings will cover the width of your land, O Immanuel.
9 "Be broken, O people, and be afraid. Listen, all you far places of the earth. Get ready, yet be afraid. Get ready, yet be afraid.
10 Make a plan, but it will come to nothing. Give your plan, but it will not be done. For God is with us."
11 For the Lord said this to me with great power, and told me not to walk in the way of these people. He said,
12 "Do not call holy all that these people call holy. Do not fear what they fear, or be afraid of it.
13 It is the Lord of All Whom you should think of as holy. Let Him be the One you fear. He is the One to be afraid of.
14 Then He will become a holy place. But He will be a stone of trouble and a rock to fall over for both houses of Israel. He will be a net and a trap for the people of Jerusalem.
15 Many will fall over them. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and caught."
16 Put together what I have said. Hold to my teachings among my followers.
17 I will wait for the Lord Who is hiding His face from the family of Jacob. I trust Him and hope in Him.
18 See, I and the children the Lord has given me are something special to see and a wonder in Israel from the Lord of All, Who lives on Mount Zion.
19 When they say to you, "Ask those who speak in secret with the spirits of the dead and who use their secret ways," should not a people ask their God? Should they speak to the dead for the living?
20 Tell them to put their faith in the teaching and the Law. If they do not speak what this word says, it is because they have no light in them.
21 They will pass through the land troubled and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be angry and curse their king and their God as they look up.
22 Then they will look to the earth and see trouble and darkness and suffering and will be driven out into darkness.
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.