« | Jonah 2 | » |
1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God while in the stomach of the fish,
2 saying, "I called out to the Lord because of my trouble, and He answered me. I cried for help from the place of the dead, and You heard my voice.
3 You threw me into the deep waters, to the very bottom of the sea. A flood was all around me and all Your waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, 'I have been sent away from Your eyes. But I will look again toward Your holy house.'
5 Waters closed in over me. The sea was all around me. Weeds were around my head.
6 I went down to the roots of the mountains. The walls of the earth were around me forever. But You have brought me up from the grave, O Lord my God.
7 While I was losing all my strength, I remembered the Lord. And my prayer came to You, into Your holy house.
8 Those who worship false gods have given up their faith in You.
9 But I will give gifts in worship to You with a thankful voice. I will give You what I have promised. The Lord is the One Who saves."
10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spit Jonah out onto the dry land.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.