« | Joshua 3 | » |
1 Joshua got up early in the morning. He and all the people of Israel left Shittim and came to the Jordan. And they stayed there before they crossed.
2 After three days the leaders went among the tents.
3 They told the people, "When you see the special box of the agreement of the Lord your God with the religious leaders carrying it, leave your places and follow it.
4 Then you may know the way to go, for you have not passed this way before. But stay about 1,000 long steps away from it. Do not come near it."
5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Make yourselves holy. For tomorrow the Lord will do powerful works among you."
6 Joshua said to the religious leaders, "Take up the special box of the agreement and cross over in front of the people." So they took up the special box of the agreement and went in front of the people.
7 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to give you honor in the eyes of all Israel. Then they may know that I will be with you just as I have been with Moses.
8 Tell the religious leaders who are carrying the special box of the agreement, 'When you come to the water of the Jordan River, stand still in it.' ''
9 Then Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here. Listen to the words of the Lord your God."
10 And Joshua said, "You will know that the living God is among you because He will be sure to drive away from in front of you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite and the Jebusite.
11 See, the special box of the agreement of the Lord of All the earth is crossing over in front of you in the Jordan.
12 Now choose twelve men from the families of Israel, one man for each family.
13 The religious leaders who carry the special box of the agreement of the Lord of All the earth, will rest their feet in the water of the Jordan. Then the water of the Jordan will be cut off. The water flowing down from above will gather together in one place."
14 So the people left their tents to cross the Jordan. The religious leaders carried the special box of the agreement in front of the people.
15 They carried it to the Jordan and put their feet in the water. (For the Jordan water floods during the time of gathering grain.)
16 Then the water flowing down from above stood and rose up in one place far away at Adam, the city beside Zarethan. The water flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, was all cut off. So the people crossed beside Jericho.
17 The religious leaders who carried the special box of the agreement of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. And all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had crossed the Jordan.
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.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.