« | Judges 2 | » |
1 And an angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to the [place of] weeping, and to Bethel, and to the house of Israel, and said to them, Thus says the Lord: I brought you up out of Egypt, and I brought you into the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant that I have made with you.
2 And you shall make no covenant with them that dwell in this land, neither shall you worship their gods; but you shall destroy their graven images, you shall pull down their altars: but you did not listen to My voice, for you did these things.
3 And I said, I will not drive them out from before you, but they shall be for a distress to you, and their gods shall be to you for an offense.
4 And it came to pass when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5 And they named the name of that place Weepings; and they sacrificed there to the Lord.
6 And Joshua dismissed the people, and they went every man to his inheritance, to inherit the land.
7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that lived many days with Joshua, as many as knew all the great work of the Lord, what things He had done in Israel.
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, [being] one hundred and ten years old.
9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance, in Timnath Heres, in Mount Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
10 And all that generation were laid to their fathers: and another generation rose up after them, who knew not the Lord, nor yet the work which He wrought in Israel.
11 And the children of Israel did evil before the Lord, and served Baalam.
12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and walked after other gods, of the gods of the nations round about them; and they worshipped them.
13 And they provoked the Lord, and forsook Him, and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14 And the Lord was very angry with Israel; and He gave them into the hands of the plunderers, and they plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, and they could not any longer resist their enemies,
15 among whomsoever they went; and the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord spoke, and as the Lord swore to them; and He greatly afflicted them.
16 And the Lord raised up judges, and the Lord saved them out of the hands of those that spoiled them: and yet they would not listen to the judges,
17 for they went whoring after other gods, and worshipped them; and they turned quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked to hearken to the words of the Lord; they did not do so.
18 And because the Lord raised them up judges, so the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved at their groaning by reason of them that besieged them and afflicted them.
19 And it came to pass when the judge died, that they went back, and again corrupted [themselves] worse than their fathers to go after other gods, to serve them and to worship them: they did not abandon their own doings, nor their stubborn ways.
20 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and said, Because this nation has forsaken My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to My voice,
21 therefore I will no longer drive out a man of the nations before their face, which Joshua the son of Nun left in the land. And [the Lord] left [them],
22 to test Israel with them, whether they would keep the way of the Lord, to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.
23 So the Lord will leave these nations, so as not to cast them out suddenly; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.
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.