« | Numbers 30 | » |
1 Then Moses said to the heads of the families of the sons of Israel, "This is what the Lord has said.
2 If a man makes a promise to the Lord, or swears that he will keep his promise, he must not break his word. He must do all that he said he would do.
3 If a woman makes a promise to the Lord, and swears to keep her promise in her father's house when she is young,
4 and if her father hears her promise and how she has sworn to keep it, and says nothing to her, then all her promises must be kept. She must keep every promise she has sworn to keep.
5 But if her father does not allow her to keep her promise on the day he hears of it, then she does not need to keep any of the promises she has sworn to keep. The Lord will forgive her because her father would not allow it.
6 "If she gets married and has promises to keep because of what she swore without thinking,
7 and if her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears, then she must keep the promises she has sworn to keep.
8 But if on the day he hears of it, her husband does not allow her to keep her promise, then she will not have to keep the promise that she had sworn to keep when she was not thinking. The Lord will forgive her.
9 "A woman whose husband has died or left her must keep the promises she has sworn to keep.
10 But if she has made a promise in her husband's house, and she has sworn to keep a promise there
11 and if her husband hears of it, and does not go against her or say anything to her, then she must keep all the promises she had sworn to keep.
12 But if her husband does not allow her to keep her promises on the day he hears of them, then she does not have to keep the promises she had sworn to keep. If her husband will not let her keep them, the Lord will forgive her.
13 "Her husband has the right to have her keep, or not keep, any promise she has sworn to keep.
14 But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then she must keep all her promises. He made her promises so they could not be changed, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard of them.
15 But if he will not allow her to keep her promises after he has heard of them, then her guilt will be on him."
16 These are the Laws which the Lord told Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter, while she is young and in her father's house.
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.