« | Jeremiah 19 | » |
1 Then the Lord said to me, Go and get an earthen bottle, the work of the potter, and you shall bring [some] of the elders of the people, and of the priests.
2 And you shall go forth to the burial place of the sons of their children, which is at the entrance of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there all these words which I shall speak to you.
3 And you shall say to them, Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and men of Judah, and the dwellers in Jerusalem, and they that enter in by these gates. Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Behold, I [will] bring such a catastrophe upon this place, that the ears of everyone that hears it shall tingle.
4 Because they forsook Me, and profaned this place, and burned incense in it to strange gods, which they and their fathers knew not; and the kings of Judah have filled this place with innocent blood,
5 and built high places for Baal, to burn their children in the fire, which things I commanded not, neither did I design [them] in My heart.
6 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when this place shall no more be called Tophet, or the fall and burial place of the son of Hinnom, but the burial place of slaughter.
7 And I will destroy the counsel of Judah and the counsel of Jerusalem in this place; and I will cast them down with the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives. And I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the sky, and to the wild beasts of the earth.
8 And I will bring this city to desolation and [make it] a hissing: everyone that passes by it shall scowl, and hiss because of all her plagues.
9 And they shall eat the flesh of their sons, and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat, everyone the flesh of his neighbor in the blockade, and in the siege with which their enemies shall besiege them.
10 And you shall break the bottle in the sight of the men that go forth with you,
11 and you shall say, Thus says the Lord, Thus will I break in pieces this people, and this city, even as an earthen vessel is broken in pieces which cannot be mended again.
12 Thus will I do to this place, says the Lord, and to the inhabitants of it, that this city may be given up, as one that is falling to ruin.
13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be as a ruinous place, because of their uncleanness in all the houses, in which they burnt incense upon their roofs to all the host of heaven, and poured [out] drink offerings to strange gods.
14 And Jeremiah came from Tophet, where the Lord had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the Lord's house. And said to all the people, Thus says the Lord:
15 Behold I bring upon this city, and upon all the cities belonging to it, and upon the villages of it, all the doom which I have spoken against it, because they have hardened their neck, [that they might not] hearken to My commands.
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.