« | James 5 |
1 Listen now, you rich, weep and howl at your miseries which are coming upon you!
2 Your riches have decayed, and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their poison will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days.
4 Indeed, the wages of the laborers who reaped your fields, which were kept back by you, cry out, and the cries of the reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
5 You lived luxuriously upon the earth and you lived riotously, you nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned; you have murdered the just. He does not resist you.
7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer awaits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it, until it receives the early and late rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, because the coming of the Lord has drawn near.
9 Do not murmur against one another, brothers, lest you be judged. Behold, the Judge stands before the doors!
10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of evil suffering and of longsuffering.
11 Indeed we count those blessed who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you saw the end of the Lord--that He is compassionate and He is merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor the earth, nor any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," so that you may not fall into hypocrisy.
13 Does anyone among you suffer misfortune? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the [one] who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.
16 Confess your transgressions to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of the righteous is very powerful.
17 Elijah was a man of similar nature to us, and with a prayer, he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and it did not rain upon the land for three years and six months.
18 And again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
19 Brothers, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth, and anyone turns him back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
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.