« | Leviticus 19 | » |
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 "Tell all the people of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God. You must be holy because I am holy.
3 "'You must respect your mother and father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
4 "'Do not worship idols or make statues or gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
5 "'When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, offer it in such a way that will be accepted.
6 You may eat it the same day you offer it or on the next day. But if any is left on the third day, you must burn it up.
7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is unclean, and it will not be accepted.
8 Anyone who eats it then will be guilty of sin, because he did not respect the holy things that belong to the Lord. He must be cut off from the people.
9 "'When you harvest your crops on your land, do not harvest all the way to the corners of your fields. If grain falls onto the ground, don't gather it up.
10 Don't pick all the grapes in your vineyards, and don't pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. You must leave those things for poor people and for people traveling through your country. I am the Lord your God.
11 "'You must not steal. You must not cheat people, and you must not lie to each other.
12 You must not make a false promise by my name, or you will show that you don't respect your God. I am the Lord.
13 "'You must not cheat your neighbor or rob him. You must not keep a hired worker's salary all night until morning.
14 You must not curse a deaf person or put something in front of a blind person to make him fall. But you must respect your God. I am the Lord.
15 "'Be fair in your judging. You must not show special favor to poor people or great people, but be fair when you judge your neighbor.
16 You must not spread false stories against other people, and you must not do anything that would put your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord.
17 "'You must not hate your fellow citizen in your heart. If your neighbor does something wrong, tell him about it, or you will be partly to blame.
18 Forget about the wrong things people do to you, and do not try to get even. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord.
19 "'Obey my laws. You must not mate two different kinds of cattle or sow your field with two different kinds of seed. You must not wear clothing made from two different kinds of material mixed together.
20 "'If a man has sexual relations with a slave girl of another man, but this slave girl has not been bought or given her freedom, there must be punishment. But they are not to be put to death, because the woman was not free.
21 The man must bring a male sheep as his penalty offering to the Lord at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.
22 The priest will offer the sheep as a penalty offering before the Lord for the man's sin, to remove the sins of the man so he will belong to the Lord. Then he will be forgiven for his sin.
23 "'In the future, when you enter your country, you will plant many kinds of trees for food. After planting a tree, wait three years before using its fruit.
24 In the fourth year the fruit from the tree will be the Lord's, a holy offering of praise to him.
25 Then in the fifth year, you may eat the fruit from the tree. The tree will then produce more fruit for you. I am the Lord your God.
26 "'You must not eat anything with the blood in it. "'You must not try to tell the future by signs or black magic.
27 "'You must not cut the hair on the sides of your heads or cut the edges of your beard.
28 You must not cut your body to show sadness for someone who died or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
29 "'Do not dishonor your daughter by making her become a prostitute. If you do this, the country will be filled with all kinds of sin.
30 "'Obey the laws about Sabbaths, and respect my Most Holy Place. I am the Lord.
31 "'Do not go to mediums or fortune-tellers for advice, or you will become unclean. I am the Lord your God.
32 "'Show respect to old people; stand up in their presence. Show respect also to your God. I am the Lord.
33 "'Do not mistreat foreigners living in your country,
34 but treat them just as you treat your own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners one time in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
35 "'Do not cheat when you measure the length or weight or amount of something.
36 Your weights and balances should weigh correctly, with your weighing baskets the right size and your jars holding the right amount of liquid. I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 "'Remember all my laws and rules, and obey them. I am the Lord.'"
The New Century Version (NCV)
The New Century Version (NCV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible designed to be easily understandable and accessible to a broad audience. First published in 1987 by Thomas Nelson, the NCV originated from a project aimed at creating a simplified English translation for children. Over time, the scope of the translation expanded to cater to readers of all ages, including those with limited English proficiency and those new to the Bible. The NCV’s primary goal is to communicate the truths of Scripture in clear, everyday language that resonates with modern readers.
A notable feature of the NCV is its use of dynamic equivalence, or thought-for-thought translation philosophy. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and intent of the original texts over maintaining a strict word-for-word correspondence. By doing so, the NCV aims to make the Bible’s messages more relatable and easier to understand, especially for those who may find traditional translations challenging. The translation team worked diligently to balance accuracy with readability, ensuring that the essence of the biblical texts is preserved while making them more accessible to contemporary audiences.
The NCV also includes various study aids and features designed to enhance comprehension and engagement with the biblical text. These include introductions to each book of the Bible, footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, and cross-references that help readers see connections between different parts of Scripture. Additionally, the NCV often employs gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to be inclusive and respectful of modern sensibilities while remaining faithful to the original texts.
Despite its strengths, the New Century Version has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Additionally, some theologians express concern that the simplified language may not fully capture the richness and complexity of certain theological concepts. Nonetheless, the NCV remains a valuable resource for many readers, particularly those seeking a clear and approachable version of the Bible that helps them connect with and understand its timeless messages.