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1 Bless LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou are very great. Thou are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 who covers thyself with light as with a garment, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
3 who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks upon the wings of the wind,
4 who makes his heavenly agents spirits, his ministers a flame of fire,
5 who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be moved forever.
6 Thou covered it with the deep as with a vesture. The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled. At the voice of thy thunder they hastened away.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place which thou had founded for them.
9 Thou have set a bound that they may not pass over, that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation. They sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his chambers. The earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbage for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth,
15 and wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart.
16 The trees of LORD are full, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,
17 where the birds make their nests. As for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows his going down.
20 Thou make darkness, and it is night, during which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
22 The sun arises; they get away, and lay down in their dens.
23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.
24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom have thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches.
25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable creeping things, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships. There is leviathan, whom thou have formed to play in it.
27 These all wait for thee, that thou may give them their food in due season.
28 Thou give to them, they gather. Thou open thy hand, they are satisfied with good.
29 Thou hide thy face, they are troubled. Thou take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou send forth thy Spirit, they are created, and thou renew the face of the ground.
31 Let the glory of LORD endure forever. Let LORD rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to LORD as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34 Let thy meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in LORD.
35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless LORD, O my soul. Praise ye LORD.
A Conservative Version (ACV)
A Conservative Version (ACV) of the Bible is a translation that aims to provide a conservative and literal interpretation of the biblical texts. Developed with a focus on maintaining fidelity to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, the ACV emphasizes a word-for-word translation methodology. The goal is to preserve the subtleties and nuances of the original languages as accurately as possible. This approach results in a version of the Bible that seeks to remain true to the text's original meaning and context, appealing to readers who prioritize precision and doctrinal integrity.
The text of the Old Testament for A Conservative Version (ACV) came from the American Standard Version published in 1901. The main changes done for the ACV were the replacement of archaic words with more modern ones, except for the old English pronouns, which were kept because they are more communicative. The New Testament was translated from, The New Testament in the Original Greek According to the Byzantine-Majority Text form. That edition was compiled by Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, and is of the Textus Receptus tradition from which came the King James Version.
The ACV was created in response to what its translators saw as a trend toward more liberal or dynamic-equivalence translations that prioritize readability over literal accuracy. The translators aimed to produce a text that adheres closely to the original languages, even if this makes the translation more challenging for contemporary readers. This reflects their belief in the importance of preserving the exact words and phrases used in the original scriptures. The ACV also employs traditional theological terminology and phrasing, avoiding modern slang and colloquial expressions in favor of language that conveys the gravity and solemnity of the biblical message.
While the ACV has found appreciation among conservative circles, it has faced criticism for its perceived rigidity and difficulty. Critics argue that its strict adherence to a word-for-word translation can make the text less readable and accessible, potentially alienating readers unfamiliar with the original languages or who prefer a more fluid translation. Despite these criticisms, the ACV remains a valued translation for those who prioritize a conservative and literal approach to Bible interpretation, supporting their doctrinal views with a text they believe closely reflects the original scriptures.