« | Job 15 | » |
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with talk that is not useful, or with speeches which have no profit?
4 Yea, you do away with fear, and take away prayer before God.
5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; yes, your own lips testify against you.
7 Were you the first man born? Or were you made before the hills?
8 Have you heard the secret counsel of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we do not know, or understand that is not with us?
10 With us are both the gray-headed and aged, mightier than your father as to days.
11 Are the comforts of God small with you, and a word dealing gently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away? And what do your eyes wink at,
13 that you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? And what is he born of a woman that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, He puts no trust in His saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.
16 How much more hateful and filthy is man, who drinks iniquity like water?
17 I will show you; hear me; and what I have seen I will declare,
18 that which wise men have told, and have not hidden from their fathers;
19 to them alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 The wicked man labors in pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden for the ruthless one.
21 A dreadful sound of things is in his ears; the destroyer shall come to him in peace.
22 He does not believe in a return from darkness, but he is awaited by the sword.
23 He wanders for bread, saying, Where is it? He knows that the day of darkness is ready at hand.
24 Trouble and pain shall terrify him; they shall overpower him, as a king ready for the battle;
25 because he stretches out his hand against God, and sets himself against the Almighty.
26 He runs at him, with a stiff neck, with the thick layers of his shields,
27 because he has covered his face with fat; he has put fat on his loins.
28 And he lives in cut off cities, in houses where none are living, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, nor shall his wealth hold out, nor shall he stretch out his gain on the earth.
30 He shall not escape from darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and at the breath of his mouth he shall turn away.
31 Let not he being deceived trust in vanity; for vanity shall be his reward.
32 It shall be done before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off its unripe grape, as the vine; and shall cast off his flower like the olive.
34 For the company of the ungodly shall be barren, and fire shall devour the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth evil, and their belly prepares deceit.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.