« | Mark 16 |
1 The Day of Rest was over. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body.
2 Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the grave. The sun had come up.
3 They said to themselves, "Who will roll the stone away from the door of the grave for us?"
4 But when they looked, they saw the very large stone had been rolled away.
5 They went into the grave. There they saw a young man with a long white coat sitting on the right side. They were afraid.
6 He said, "Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth Who was nailed to a cross. He is risen! He is not here! See, here is the place where they laid Him.
7 Go and tell His followers and Peter that He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see Him there as He told you."
8 They ran from the grave shaking and were surprised. They did not say anything to anyone because they were afraid.
9 (*It was early on the first day of the week when Jesus was raised from the dead. Mary Magdalene saw Him first. He had put seven demons out of her.
10 She went and told His followers. They were crying because of much sorrow.
11 But they did not believe her when she said she had seen Him alive.
12 After that He was seen again by two of His followers as they walked into the country. He did not look like He had looked before to these two people.
13 They went and told it to the others. The others did not believe them.
14 Later He was seen by the eleven followers as they were eating. He spoke to them with sharp words because they did not believe and their hearts were hard. And they did not believe the others who had seen Him since He had been raised from the dead.
15 He said to them, "You are to go to all the world and preach the Good News to every person.
16 He who puts his trust in Me and is baptized will be saved from the punishment of sin. But he who does not put his trust in Me is guilty and will be punished forever.
17 These special powerful works will be done by those who have put their trust in Me. In My name they will put out demons. They will speak with languages they have never learned.
18 They will pick up snakes. If they drink any poison, it will not hurt them. They will put their hands on the sick and they will be healed."
19 After Jesus had talked to them, He was taken up into heaven. He sat down on the right side of God.
20 The followers went from there and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. The Lord showed that the Word of God was true by the special works they had power to do.)
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.