« | Revelation 9 | » |
1 And the fifth angel sounded. And I saw a star fall from the heaven to the earth, and it was given the key of the abyss.
2 And it opened the bottomless pit. And there arose a smoke out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
3 And out of the smoke came forth locusts onto the earth. And authority was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have authority.
4 And they were commanded not to hurt the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months. And their torment was like a scorpion's torment when he stings a man.
6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it. And they will long to die, and death will flee from them.
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. And on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 And they had hairs like the hairs of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron. And the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. And their authority was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in Greek his name is Apollyon.
12 The first woe is past. Behold, after these things yet come two woes.
13 And the sixth angel sounded his trumpet. And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God,
14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, in order to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two myriads of myriads. And I heard their number.
17 And so I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having breastplates of fire, even dusky red and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions. And out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three the third part of men was killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their authority is in their mouth and in their tails. For their tails were like serpents with heads, and with them they do harm.
20 And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and golden, and silver, and bronze, and stone, and wooden idols (which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk).
21 And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
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.