« | Psalm 146 | » |
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of a man, who cannot save us.
4 When his spirit leaves, he returns to the earth. His thoughts end on that day.
5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, and whose hope is in the Lord his God.
6 The Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. He is faithful forever.
7 He helps those who have a bad power over them. He gives food to the hungry. And He sets those in prison free.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are brought down. The Lord loves those who are right and good.
9 The Lord keeps the strangers safe. He takes care of the children who have no father and the woman whose husband has died. But He destroys the way of the sinful.
10 The Lord will rule forever. Your God, O Zion, will rule over all people for all time. Praise the Lord!
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.