« | Jeremiah 11 | » |
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Hear the words of this covenant, and you shall speak to the men of Judah, and to the dwellers in Jerusalem.
3 And you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Cursed is the man who shall not heed the words of this covenant
4 which I commanded your fathers, in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey My voice, and do all things that I shall command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,
5 that I may confirm My oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing [with] milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then I answered and said, So be it, O Lord.
6 And the Lord said to me, Read these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 [This translation omits this verse.]
8 But they did not do them.
9 And the Lord said to me, A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah, and among the dwellers in Jerusalem.
10 They have turned [aside] to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear My words, and behold, they have gone after strange gods, to serve them. And the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I bring evils upon this people, out of which they shall not be able to come forth; and they shall presently cry to Me, but I will not listen to them.
12 And the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall go, and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense; which shall not deliver them in the time of their troubles.
13 For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to burn incense to Baal.
14 So do not pray for this people, and do not intercede for them with supplication and prayer; for I will not hear in the day in which they call upon Me, in the day of their affliction.
15 Why has [My] beloved done abominable [things] in My house? Will prayers and holy offerings take away your wickedness from you, or shall you escape by these things?
16 The Lord has called your name a fair olive tree, of a pleasant shade in appearance, at the noise of its being lopped, fire was kindled against it; great is the affliction [coming] upon you. Her branches have become good for nothing.
17 And the Lord that planted you has pronounced evils against you, because of the iniquity of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, whatsoever they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.
18 O Lord, teach me, and I shall know: then I saw their practices.
19 But I, as an innocent lamb led to the slaughter, did not know. Against me they devised an evil device, saying, Come and let us put wood into his bread, and let us utterly destroy him from off the land of the living, and let his name not be remembered any more.
20 O Lord, [You] that judges righteously, and who tests the heart and the most secret parts, let me see Your vengeance [taken] upon them, for to You I have declared my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek my life, that say, You shall not prophesy at all in the name of the Lord, but if you do, you shall die by our hands.
22 Behold, I will visit them. Their young men shall die by the sword, and their sons and their daughters shall die of famine.
23 And there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring evil upon the dwellers in Anathoth, in the year of their visitation.
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.