« | Job 3 | » |
1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day [of his birth],
2 saying,
3 Let the day perish in which I was born, and that night in which they said, Behold a male child!
4 Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above, neither let light come upon it.
5 But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it.
6 Let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.
7 But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.
8 But let him that curses that day curse it, even he that is ready to attack the Great Whale.
9 Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain [dark], and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:
10 because it shut not up the gates of my mother's womb, for so it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.
11 For why did I not die in the belly? And why did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?
12 And why did the knees support me? And [why] did I suck the breasts?
13 Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth, who gloried in [their] swords;
15 or with rulers, whose gold was abundant, who filled their houses with silver:
16 or I [should have been] as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother's womb, or as infants who never saw light.
17 There the ungodly have burnt out the fury of rage; there the wearied in body rest.
18 And the men of old time have together ceased to hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there, and the servant that feared his lord.
20 For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in grief?
21 Who desire death, and obtain it not, digging [for it] as [for] treasures;
22 and would be very joyful if they should gain it?
23 Death is rest to such a man, for God has hedged him in.
24 For my groaning comes before my food, and I weep, being beset with terror.
25 For the terror of which I meditated has come upon me, and that which I had feared has befallen me.
26 I was not at peace, nor quiet, nor had I rest; yet wrath came upon me.
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.