« | Psalm 44 | » |
1 For the end, A Psalm for instruction, for the sons of Korah. O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, the deeds which You did in their days, in the days of old.
2 Your hand utterly destroyed the heathen, and You planted them; You afflicted the nations, and cast them out.
3 For they inherited not the land by their [own] sword, and their [own] arm did not deliver them; but Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You were well pleased with them.
4 You are indeed my King and my God, who commanded deliverance for Jacob.
5 In You will we push down our enemies, and in Your name will we bring to nought them that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, and my sword shall not save me.
7 For You have saved us from them that afflicted us, and have put to shame them that hated us.
8 In God will we make our boast all the day, and to Your name will we give thanks forever. Pause.
9 But now You have cast off, and put us to shame; and You will not go forth with our hosts.
10 You have turned us back before our enemies; and they that hated us spoiled for themselves.
11 You made us as sheep [intended] for food; and You scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold Your people without price, and there was no profit by their exchange.
13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
14 You have made us a proverb among the Gentiles, a shaking of the head among the nations.
15 All the day my shame is before me, and the confusion of my face has covered me,
16 because of the voice of the slanderer and reviler; because of the enemy and avenger.
17 All these things have come upon us; but we have not forgotten You, neither have we dealt unrighteously in Your covenant.
18 And our heart has not gone back; but You have turned aside our paths from Your way.
19 For You have laid us low in a place of affliction, and the shadow of death has covered us.
20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search these things out?
21 for He knows the secrets of the heart.
22 For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for slaughter.
23 Awake, why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise, and do not cast [us] off forever.
24 Why do You turn Your face away, [and] forget our poverty and our affliction?
25 For our soul has been brought down to the dust; our belly has cleaved to the earth.
26 Arise, O Lord, and help us; redeem us for Your name's sake.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.