« | Psalm 139 | » |
1 O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well.
4 Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all.
5 You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me.
6 All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I run away from where You are?
8 If I go up to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in the place of the dead, You are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning or live in the farthest part of the sea,
10 even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, "For sure the darkness will cover me and the light around me will be night,"
12 even the darkness is not dark to You. And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to You.
13 For You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother.
14 I will give thanks to You, for the greatness of the way I was made brings fear. Your works are great and my soul knows it very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and put together with care in the deep part of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be.
17 Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are!
18 If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
19 If only You would kill the sinful, O God, and the men of blood would go away from me!
20 For they speak against You in sin. Those who hate You use Your name in a wrong way.
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not hate those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the strongest hate. They have become men who hate me.
23 Look into me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any sinful way in me and lead me in the way that lasts forever.
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.