« | Psalm 126 | » |
1 It was like a dream when the Lord brought back to Zion those who had been held in another land.
2 Then we laughed with our mouths, and we sang with our tongues. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad.
4 Bring back our people, O Lord, like the rivers in the South.
5 Those who plant with tears will gather fruit with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out crying as he carries his bag of seed will return with songs of joy as he brings much grain with him.
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.