« | Matthew 20 | » |
1 The kingdom of heaven is like a person who owned some land. One morning, he went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard.
2 The man agreed to pay the workers one coinn for working that day. Then he sent them into the vineyard to work.
3 About nine o'clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there, doing nothing.
4 So he said to them, 'If you go and work in my vineyard, I will pay you what your work is worth.'
5 So they went to work in the vineyard. The man went out again about twelve o'clock and three o'clock and did the same thing.
6 About five o'clock the man went to the marketplace again and saw others standing there. He asked them, 'Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?'
7 They answered, 'No one gave us a job.' The man said to them, 'Then you can go and work in my vineyard.'
8 "At the end of the day, the owner of the vineyard said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay them. Start with the last people I hired and end with those I hired first.'
9 "When the workers who were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay, each received one coin.
10 When the workers who were hired first came to get their pay, they thought they would be paid more than the others. But each one of them also received one coin.
11 When they got their coin, they complained to the man who owned the land.
12 They said, 'Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as you paid us who worked hard all day in the hot sun.'
13 But the man who owned the vineyard said to one of those workers, 'Friend, I am being fair to you. You agreed to work for one coin.
14 So take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same pay that I gave you.
15 I can do what I want with my own money. Are you jealous because I am good to those people?'
16 "So those who have the last place now will have the first place in the future, and those who have the first place now will have the last place in the future."
17 While Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he took his twelve followers aside privately and said to them,
18 "Look, we are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be turned over to the leading priests and the teachers of the law, and they will say that he must die.
19 They will give the Son of Man to the non-Jewish people to laugh at him and beat him with whips and crucify him. But on the third day, he will be raised to life again."
20 Then the wife of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons. She bowed before him and asked him to do something for her.
21 Jesus asked, "What do you want?" She said, "Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right side and the other will sit at your left side in your kingdom."
22 But Jesus said, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?" The sons answered, "Yes, we can."
23 Jesus said to them, "You will drink from my cup. But I cannot choose who will sit at my right or my left; those places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them."
24 When the other ten followers heard this, they were angry with the two brothers.
25 Jesus called all the followers together and said, "You know that the rulers of the non-Jewish people love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority.
26 But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant.
27 Whoever wants to become first among you must serve the rest of you like a slave.
28 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."
29 When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, a great many people followed him.
30 Two blind men sitting by the road heard that Jesus was going by, so they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31 The people warned the blind men to be quiet, but they shouted even more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32 Jesus stopped and said to the blind men, "What do you want me to do for you?"
33 They answered, "Lord, we want to see."
34 Jesus felt sorry for the blind men and touched their eyes, and at once they could see. Then they followed Jesus.
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.