« | Jeremiah 28 | » |
1 In that same year, in the beginning of the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the man from Gibeon who told what would happen in the future, spoke to me in the house of the Lord. He said to me in front of the religious leaders and all the people,
2 "This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says: 'I have broken the crossbar across the shoulders of the king of Babylon.
3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from here and carried to Babylon.
4 I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the people of Judah who were taken to Babylon,' says the Lord. 'For I will break the cross-bar of the king of Babylon.' "
5 Then Jeremiah, the man of God, spoke to Hananiah, the man who told what would happen, in front of the religious leaders and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord.
6 And Jeremiah, the man who spoke for God, said, "Let it be so! May the Lord do so. May the Lord make the words you have spoken come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the objects of the Lord's house and all the people of Judah.
7 Yet listen now to what I am about to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.
8 The men who spoke for God before us from long ago spoke of war and trouble and disease coming to many lands and great nations.
9 As for the man who told that peace would come, when his word comes to pass, then that man will be known as the one that the Lord has sent."
10 Then Hananiah, the man who told what would happen, took the cross-bar from the neck of Jeremiah the man of God and broke it.
11 And Hananiah said in front of all the people, "The Lord says, 'In this way I will break the cross-bar of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.' " Then Jeremiah the man of God went his way.
12 Some time after Hananiah had broken the cross-bar from off the neck of Jeremiah, the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
13 "Go and tell Hananiah, 'The Lord says, "You have broken the cross-bars of wood, but you have made bars of iron in their place."
14 For the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "I have put the cross-bar of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And they will serve him. I have given him the animals of the field also." ' ''
15 Then Jeremiah who spoke for God said to Hananiah who told what would happen, "Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you. And you have made these people trust in a lie.
16 So the Lord says, 'See, I am about to take you from the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have spoken against the right and power of the Lord.' "
17 So Hananiah, who had said these things in God's name, died in the seventh month of the same year.
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.