« | Numbers 23 | » |
1 And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare here seven oxen and seven rams for me.
2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken. And Balak and Balaam offered on the altar a bull and a ram.
3 And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Jehovah will come to meet me. And whatever He reveals to me I will tell you. And he went to a high place.
4 And God met Balaam. And he said to Him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon the altar a bull and a ram.
5 And Jehovah put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, Return to Balak, and so you shall speak.
6 And he returned to him. And lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the leaders of Moab.
7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, defy Israel.
8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy whom Jehovah has not defied?
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be counted among the nations.
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
11 And Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have kept on blessing them!
12 And he answered and said, Must I not be careful to speak that which Jehovah has put in my mouth?
13 And Balak said to him, Please come with me to another place from where you may see them. You shall see only their edge, and shall not see them all. And curse them from there for me.
14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on every altar.
15 And he said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering while I meet Him yonder.
16 And Jehovah met Balaam and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again to Balak and say this.
17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, What has Jehovah spoken?
18 And he took up his parable and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear. Listen to me, son of Zippor.
19 God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received word to bless. And He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel. Jehovah his God is with him, and the shout of a king among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt. He has, as it were, the strength of an ox.
23 Surely, there is no spell against Jacob, nor any fortune-telling against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What God has worked!
24 Behold, the people shall rise up like a great lion, and lift up himself like a young lion. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey and drinks the blood of the slain.
25 And Balak said to Balaam, Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all.
26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, Did I not tell you, saying, All that Jehovah speaks, that I must do?
27 And Balak said to Balaam, Please, come. I will bring you into another place. Perhaps it will please God that you will curse them for me from there.
28 And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor that looks toward Jeshimon.
29 And Balaam said to Balak, Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams here for me.
30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on the altar.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.