« | Jeremiah 34 | » |
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord (now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the country of his dominion, were fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah), saying,
2 Thus says the Lord: Go to Zedekiah king of Judah, and you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord: This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it, and shall burn it with fire.
3 And you shall not escape out of his hand, but shall certainly be taken, and shall be given into his hands; and your eyes shall see his eyes, and you shall enter into Babylon.
4 But hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says the Lord:
5 You shall die in peace; and as they wept for your fathers that reigned before you, so shall they weep for you, [saying], Alas, lord! And they shall lament for you down to the grave; for I have spoken the word, says the Lord.
6 And Jeremiah spoke to King Zedekiah all these words in Jerusalem.
7 And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem, and against the cities of Judah, and against Lachish, and against Azekah; for these fortified cities were left among the cities of Judah.
8 [This is] the word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with the people, to proclaim a release:
9 That every man should set his servant free, and every man his maidservant, the Hebrew man and Hebrew woman, that no one from Judah should be in bondage.
10 Then all the nobles, and all the people who had entered into the covenant, [engaging] to set free everyone of his male and female slaves, [changed their minds],
11 and gave them over to be male and female slaves.
12 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
13 Thus says the Lord: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,
14 When six years are accomplished, you shall set free your brother the Hebrew, who shall be sold to you; for he shall serve you six years, and [then] you shall let him go free. But they hearkened not to Me, and inclined not their ear.
15 And this day they turned to do that which was right in My sight, to proclaim everyone the release of his neighbor; and they had made a covenant before Me, in the house which is called by My name.
16 But you turned and profaned My name, to bring back everyone his servant, and everyone his handmaid, whom you had set free [and] at their own disposal, to be to you male and female slaves.
17 Therefore thus said the Lord: You have not hearkened to Me, to proclaim a release everyone to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim a release to you, to the sword, and to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will give you up to dispersion [among] all the kingdoms of the earth.
18 And I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, who have not kept My covenant, which they made before Me, the calf which they prepared to sacrifice with it,
19 the princes of Judah, and the men in power, and the priests, and the people.
20 I will even give them to their enemies, and their carcasses shall be food for the birds of the sky and for the wild beasts of the earth.
21 And I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, and their princes, into the hands of their enemies, and the host of the king of Babylon [shall come upon] them that run away from them.
22 Behold, I [will] give command, says the Lord, and will bring them back to this land; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire, and the cities of Judah; and I will make them desolate without inhabitants.
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.