« | Psalm 132 | » |
1 A song of ascents. LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.
2 He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 "I will not enter my house or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
7 "Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 'Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy.' "
10 For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.
11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.
17 "Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a resplendent crown."
Today’s New International Version (TNIV)
Today’s New International Version (TNIV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that was first published in its complete form in 2005 by the International Bible Society, now known as Biblica. The TNIV is a revision of the New International Version (NIV), which was initially released in 1978. The primary goal of the TNIV was to update the language and address gender inclusivity while maintaining the readability and accuracy that made the NIV popular. The translation aimed to reflect contemporary English usage and to be accessible to a broad audience, including both men and women.
One of the key features of the TNIV is its commitment to gender-inclusive language. The translators sought to avoid gender-specific terms where the original texts did not explicitly require them, thereby making the text more inclusive and reflective of modern linguistic sensibilities. For example, where the original Greek or Hebrew text used terms that referred to both men and women, the TNIV translated them in a gender-neutral manner. This approach aimed to make the Bible more accessible and relatable to all readers, ensuring that no one felt excluded by the language used.
The TNIV also made several other updates to enhance clarity and readability. The translators incorporated the latest biblical scholarship and linguistic research to ensure that the translation accurately conveyed the meaning of the original texts. They aimed to strike a balance between maintaining the formal equivalence of the original languages and using dynamic equivalence to make the text more understandable for contemporary readers. This involved updating archaic words and phrases, improving sentence structures, and clarifying ambiguous passages without losing the essence of the original scriptures.
Despite its strengths, the TNIV faced significant controversy and criticism, particularly from conservative Christian groups and scholars. Critics argued that the gender-inclusive language could potentially distort the intended meaning of the biblical texts and that the changes were driven more by cultural trends than by faithful adherence to the original manuscripts. The debate over the TNIV’s translation choices led to its eventual discontinuation, with Biblica deciding to focus on updating the NIV instead. However, the TNIV’s influence can still be seen in subsequent revisions of the NIV, which have incorporated some of the gender-inclusive principles and linguistic updates introduced by the TNIV.