« | Matthew 7 | » |
1 "Do not say what is wrong in other people's lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life.
2 You will be guilty of the same things you find in others. When you say what is wrong in others, your words will be used to say what is wrong in you.
3 Why do you look at the small piece of wood in your brother's eye, and do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take that small piece of wood out of your eye,' when there is a big piece of wood in your own eye?
5 You who pretend to be someone you are not, first take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you can see better to take the small piece of wood out of your brother's eye.
6 "Do not give that which belongs to God to dogs. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will break them under their feet. Then they will turn and tear you to pieces.
7 "Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you.
8 Everyone who asks receives what he asks for. Everyone who looks finds what he is looking for. Everyone who knocks has the door opened to him.
9 What man among you would give his son a stone if he should ask for bread?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, would he give him a snake?
11 You are bad and you know how to give good things to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?
12 "Do for other people whatever you would like to have them do for you. This is what the Jewish Law and the early preachers said.
13 "Go in through the narrow door. The door is wide and the road is easy that leads to hell. Many people are going through that door.
14 But the door is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life that lasts forever. Few people are finding it.
15 "Watch out for false teachers. They come to you dressed as if they were sheep. On the inside they are hungry wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruit. Do men pick grapes from thorns? Do men pick figs from thistles?
17 It is true, every good tree has good fruit. Every bad tree has bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not have good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So you will know them by their fruit.
21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will go into the holy nation of heaven. The one who does the things My Father in heaven wants him to do will go into the holy nation of heaven.
22 Many people will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not preach in Your Name? Did we not put out demons in Your Name? Did we not do many powerful works in Your Name?'
23 Then I will say to them in plain words, 'I never knew you. Go away from Me, you who do wrong!'
24 "Whoever hears these words of Mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
25 The rain came down. The water came up. The wind blew and hit the house. The house did not fall because it was built on rock.
26 Whoever hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 The rain came down. The water came up. The wind blew and hit the house. The house fell and broke apart."
28 Then Jesus finished talking. The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching.
29 He was teaching them as One Who has the right and the power to teach. He did not teach as the teachers of the Law.
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.