« | Leviticus 2 | » |
1 'When anyone gives a grain gift to the Lord, it should be of fine flour. He should pour oil on it and put special perfume on it.
2 Then he will take it to Aaron's sons, the religious leaders. The religious leader will fill his hand with the fine flour, oil and special perfume and will burn it on the altar as a part to be remembered. It will be a gift by fire, a pleasing smell to the Lord.
3 The rest of the grain gift will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is a most holy part of the gifts by fire to the Lord.
4 'When you bring a gift of grain that has been baked, it should be loaves of fine flour without yeast and mixed with oil, or hard bread without yeast and spread with oil.
5 If your gift of grain has been cooked on top of the stove, it should be of fine flour without yeast and mixed with oil.
6 Break it into pieces and pour oil on it. It is a grain gift.
7 If your gift of grain has been cooked in a pot, it should be made of fine flour with oil.
8 Bring the grain gift that is made of these things to the Lord. It will be given to the religious leader, and he will bring it to the altar.
9 The religious leader will take the part to be remembered from the grain gift and burn it on the altar. It will be a gift by fire, a pleasing smell to the Lord.
10 The rest of the grain gift belongs to Aaron and his sons. It is a most holy part of the gifts by fire to the Lord.
11 'No grain gift that you bring to the Lord will be made with yeast. For you must never burn yeast or honey in any gift by fire to the Lord.
12 You may bring them to the Lord as a gift of first-fruits, but not for a pleasing smell upon the altar.
13 You should add salt to all your grain gifts. The salt of the agreement of your God must be in your grain gift. Give salt with all your gifts.
14 'If you give a grain gift of first-fruits to the Lord, give crushed new grain from new plants, dried by fire.
15 Put oil and special perfume on it. It is a grain gift.
16 The religious leader will burn part of its crushed grain and oil with all its special perfume, as its part to be remembered. It is a gift by fire to the Lord.
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.