« | Malachi 3 | » |
1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And LORD, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple. And the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he comes, says LORD of hosts.
2 But who can abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.
3 And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver. And they shall offer to LORD offerings in righteousness.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to LORD, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who turn aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says LORD of hosts.
6 For I, LORD, do not change. Therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says LORD of hosts. But ye say, How shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye rob me. But ye say, How have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with the curse, for ye rob me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, says LORD of hosts, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, nor shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightful land, says LORD of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, says LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before LORD of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy. Yea, those who work wickedness are built up. Yea, they challenge God, and escape.
16 Then those who feared LORD spoke one with another, and LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared LORD, and who thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, says LORD of hosts, my own possession, in the day that I make. And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.
18 Then ye shall return and discern between the righteous man and the wicked man, between him who serves God and him who does not serve him.
A Conservative Version (ACV)
A Conservative Version (ACV) of the Bible is a translation that aims to provide a conservative and literal interpretation of the biblical texts. Developed with a focus on maintaining fidelity to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, the ACV emphasizes a word-for-word translation methodology. The goal is to preserve the subtleties and nuances of the original languages as accurately as possible. This approach results in a version of the Bible that seeks to remain true to the text's original meaning and context, appealing to readers who prioritize precision and doctrinal integrity.
The text of the Old Testament for A Conservative Version (ACV) came from the American Standard Version published in 1901. The main changes done for the ACV were the replacement of archaic words with more modern ones, except for the old English pronouns, which were kept because they are more communicative. The New Testament was translated from, The New Testament in the Original Greek According to the Byzantine-Majority Text form. That edition was compiled by Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, and is of the Textus Receptus tradition from which came the King James Version.
The ACV was created in response to what its translators saw as a trend toward more liberal or dynamic-equivalence translations that prioritize readability over literal accuracy. The translators aimed to produce a text that adheres closely to the original languages, even if this makes the translation more challenging for contemporary readers. This reflects their belief in the importance of preserving the exact words and phrases used in the original scriptures. The ACV also employs traditional theological terminology and phrasing, avoiding modern slang and colloquial expressions in favor of language that conveys the gravity and solemnity of the biblical message.
While the ACV has found appreciation among conservative circles, it has faced criticism for its perceived rigidity and difficulty. Critics argue that its strict adherence to a word-for-word translation can make the text less readable and accessible, potentially alienating readers unfamiliar with the original languages or who prefer a more fluid translation. Despite these criticisms, the ACV remains a valued translation for those who prioritize a conservative and literal approach to Bible interpretation, supporting their doctrinal views with a text they believe closely reflects the original scriptures.