Jonah 1 | » |
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 Rise, and go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach in it; for the cry of its wickedness has come up before Me.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. And he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: and he paid his fare, and went up into it, to sail with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
4 And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.
5 And the sailors were alarmed, and cried everyone to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.
6 And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why do you snore? Arise, and call upon your God, that God may save us, and we perish not.
7 And each man said to his neighbor, Come, let us cast lots, and find out for whose sake this mischief is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
8 And they said to him, Tell us, what is your occupation, and where do you come from, and of what country and of what people are you?
9 And he said to them, I am a servant of the Lord; and I worship the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea, and the dry land.
10 Then the men feared exceedingly, and said to him, What is this that you have done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the face of the Lord, because he had told them.
11 And they said to him, What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us? For the sea rose, and lifted its waves exceedingly.
12 And Jonah said to them, Take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm for you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13 And the men tried hard to return to the land, and were not able: for the sea rose and grew more and more tempestuous against them.
14 And they cried to the Lord, and said, Forbid it, Lord: let us not perish for the sake of this man's life, and bring not righteous blood upon us: for You, O Lord, have done as You willed.
15 So they took Jonah, and cast him out into the sea: and the sea ceased from its raging.
16 And the men feared the Lord very greatly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and vowed vows.
17 [ 2:1] Now the Lord had commanded a great whale to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights.
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.