« | Proverbs 2 | » |
1 [My] son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it within you;
2 your ear shall hearken to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.
3 For if you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;
4 and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;
5 then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His presence come knowledge and understanding,
7 and He treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: He will protect their way;
8 that He may guard the righteous ways: and He will preserve the way of them that fear Him.
9 Then shall you understand righteousness and judgment, equity [and] every good path.
10 For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,
11 [then] good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;
12 to deliver you from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.
13 Alas [for those] who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;
14 who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;
15 whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;
16 to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. [My] son, let not evil counsel overtake you,
17 [of her] who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and has forgotten the covenant of God.
18 For she has fixed her house near death, and guided her wheels near Hades with the giants.
19 None that go by her shall return, neither shall they take hold of right paths, for they have not apprehended of the years of life.
20 For had they gone in good paths, they would have easily found the paths of righteousness.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the earth, and the holy shall be left behind in it.
22 The paths of the ungodly shall perish out of the earth, and transgressors shall be driven away from it.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.