« | Joel 3 |
1 For behold, in those days and at that time, when I shall have turned the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all the Gentiles, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and My heritage Israel, who have been dispersed among the Gentiles; and [these Gentiles] have divided My land,
3 and cast lots over My people, and have given [their] boys to harlots, and sold [their] girls for wine, and have drunk.
4 And what have you to do with Me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles? Do you render Me a recompense? Or do you bear malice against Me? Quickly and speedily will I return your recompense on your own heads:
5 because you have taken My silver and My gold, and you have brought My choice ornaments into your temples;
6 and you have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the children of the Greeks, that you might expel them from their coasts.
7 Therefore, behold, I [will] raise them up out of the place where you have sold them, and I will return your recompense on your own heads.
8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them into captivity to a far distant nation: for the Lord has spoken [it].
9 Proclaim these things among the Gentiles; declare war, arouse the warriors, draw near and go up, all you men of war.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your sickles into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Gather yourselves together, and go in, all you nations round about, and gather yourselves there; let the timid become a warrior.
12 Let them be aroused, let all the nations go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the Gentiles round about.
13 Bring forth the sickles, for the vintage is come: go in, tread [the grapes], for the press is full: cause the vats to overflow; for their wickedness is multiplied.
14 Noises have resounded in the valley of judgment: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of judgment.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their light.
16 And the Lord shall cry out of Zion, and shall utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heaven and the earth shall be shaken, but the Lord shall spare His people, and shall strengthen the children of Israel.
17 And you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion My holy mountain: and Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall not pass through her anymore.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the fountains of Judah shall flow with water, and a fountain shall go forth of the house of the Lord, and water the Valley of Flags.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate plain, because of the wrongs of the children of Judah, because they have shed righteous blood in their land.
20 But Judea shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.
21 And I will make inquisition for their blood, and will by no means leave it unavenged: and the Lord shall dwell in Zion.
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.