« | Jeremiah 8 | » |
1 "At that time," says the Lord, "they will bring out the bones of the kings and leaders of Judah, the bones of the religious leaders, the bones of the men of God, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem from their graves.
2 And they will spread them out to the sun, the moon, and to all the stars of heaven. For these they have loved, and served, and followed, and looked for, and worshiped. The bones will not be gathered or buried. They will be as animal waste on top of the ground.
3 And death will be chosen instead of life by all those who are left of this sinful family in all the places where I have driven them," says the Lord of All.
4 "You will say to them, 'This is what the Lord says: "Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not return?
5 Why then have the people of Jerusalem always turned away from Me? They hold on to what is false, and will not return.
6 I have listened and heard, but they have not said what is right. No man turned from his sinful way, saying, 'What have I done?' Every one turns to his own way like a horse running into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky knows her times. And the turtle-dove, crane, and swallow keep the time of their coming. But My people do not know the Law of the Lord.
8 "How can you say, 'We are wise, and the Law of the Lord is with us'? See, the lying hand of the writers has made it into a lie.
9 The wise men are put to shame. They are troubled and taken. See, they have turned away from the Word of the Lord, and what kind of wisdom do they have?
10 So I will give their wives to others, and their fields to new owners. Because from the least to the greatest, every one is always wanting much. From the man of God to the religious leader, no one can be trusted in what he does.
11 They have healed the hurt of My people very little, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.
12 Were they ashamed because of the hated sin they had done? They were not ashamed at all. They did not even know how to turn red. So they will fall among those who fall. When I punish them, they will be put down," says the Lord.
13 "For sure I will take them away," says the Lord. "There will be no grapes on the vine, and no figs on the fig tree, and the leaves will dry up. What I have given them will pass away."
14 Why are we sitting here? Gather together, and let us go into the strong cities and die there. For the Lord our God has given us up to die. He has given us poison in our water to drink, for we have sinned against Him.
15 We waited for peace, but no good came. We waited for a time of healing, but see, there is much trouble.
16 The noise of his horses is heard from Dan. The whole land shakes at the sound of his war horses. For they come and destroy the land and everything that is in it, the city and those who live in it.
17 "For see, I am sending the worst of snakes against you, poison snakes which cannot be stopped. And they will bite you," says the Lord.
18 My sorrow is too much to heal. My heart is weak within me.
19 Listen! It is the cry of my people from a far away land: "Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?" "Why have they made Me angry with their objects of worship, and with strange gods?"
20 "Gathering time is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved."
21 I am hurt because my people are hurt. I am filled with sorrow, and fear has taken hold of me.
22 Is there no healing oil in Gilead? Is there no doctor there? Why then have my people not been healed?
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.