« | Psalm 145 | » |
1 I will praise You, my God and King. I will honor Your name forever and ever.
2 I will honor You every day, and praise Your name forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and our praise to Him should be great. He is too great for anyone to understand.
4 Families of this time will praise Your works to the familiesto-come. They will tell about Your powerful acts.
5 I will think about the shining-greatness of Your power and about Your great works.
6 Men will speak of Your powerful acts that fill us with fear. And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 Many words will come from their mouths about how good You are. They will sing for joy about how right You are.
8 The Lord is full of loving-favor and pity, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.
9 The Lord is good to all. And His loving-kindness is over all His works.
10 All Your works will give thanks to You, O Lord. And all those who belong to You will honor You.
11 They will speak of the shining-greatness of Your holy nation, and talk of Your power.
12 They will make Your powerful acts and the great power of Your holy nation known to the sons of men.
13 Your holy nation is a nation that lasts forever. And Your rule lasts for all time.
14 The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises up all who are brought down.
15 The eyes of all look to You. And You give them their food at the right time.
16 You open Your hand and fill the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
19 He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord takes care of all who love Him. But He will destroy all the sinful.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And all flesh will honor His holy name forever and ever.
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.