« | Job 27 | » |
1 And Job further continued and said in his discourse,
2 As God lives, who has thus judged me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;
3 verily, while my breath is yet in me, and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,
4 my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.
5 Far be it from me that I should justify you till I die! For I will not let go my innocence,
6 but keeping fast to my righteousness, I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done anything amiss.
7 But on the contrary, let my enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me as the destruction of transgressors.
8 For what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? Will he indeed trust in the Lord and be saved?
9 Will God hear his prayer? Or when distress has come upon him,
10 has he any confidence before Him? Or will [God] hear him as he calls upon Him?
11 Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.
12 Behold, you all know that you are adding vanity to vanity.
13 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.
14 And if their children are many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.
15 And they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows.
16 Even if he should gather silver as dust, and prepare gold as clay,
17 all these things shall the righteous gain, and the true-hearted shall possess His wealth.
18 And his house is gone like moths, and like a spider's web.
19 The rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is no more.
20 Pains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night.
21 And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.
22 And [God] shall cast [trouble] upon him, and not spare: he flees desperately from out of His hand.
23 He shall cause [men] to clap their hands against them, and shall hiss him out of his place.
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.