« | Psalm 23 | » |
1 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need.
2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters.
3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name.
4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me.
5 You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need.
6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house 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.