« | Psalm 69 | » |
1 To the Chief Musician. Concerning the Lilies. A Psalm of David. Save me, O God! for the waters have come in on my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is dried; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they who would destroy me are mighty, my lying enemies. Then I restored what I did not take away.
5 O God, You know my foolishness, and my guiltiness is not hidden from You.
6 Do not let those who wait on You, O Jehovah, the God of Hosts, be ashamed for my sake; let not the ones who seek You be ashamed for my sake, O God of Israel,
7 because I have borne reproach for Your sake, shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to My brothers, and a foreigner to My mother's children.
9 For the zeal of Your house has eaten Me up; and the reproaches of those who reproached You have fallen on Me.
10 When I humbled my soul with fasting, it turned to my reproach.
11 I also made sackcloth my clothing, and I became a proverb to them.
12 They who sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Jehovah, in a pleasing time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy hear me, in the truth of Your salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood of waters overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut its mouth on me.
16 Hear me, O Jehovah, for Your loving-kindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
17 And hide not Your face from Your servant; for I am in trouble; hear me quickly.
18 Draw near my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies.
19 You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor; my enemies are all before You.
20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; and I looked for some to mourn with me, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They also gave Me gall for my food; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them; and to those at ease a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake without ceasing.
24 Pour out Your wrath on them, and let the glow of Your anger take hold of them.
25 Let their dwelling be wasted; let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom You have stricken, and they talk to the grief of those You pierced.
27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and sorrowful; let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please Jehovah better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see and be glad; and your heart shall live, you who seek God.
33 For Jehovah hears the needy, and does not despise His prisoners.
34 Let the heavens and earth praise Him, the seas, and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah; so that they may dwell there, and possess it.
36 And the seed of His servants shall inherit it, and they who love His name shall dwell in it.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.