« | Ruth 4 |
1 And Boaz went up to the gate, and sat there. And behold, the relative passed by, of whom Boaz spoke. And Boaz said to him, Turn aside, [and] sit down here. And he turned aside and sat down.
2 And Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit here; and they sat down.
3 And Boaz said to the relative, [The matter regards] the portion of the field which was our brother Elimelech's which was given to Naomi, now returning out of the land of Moab.
4 And I said, I will inform you, saying, Buy it before those that sit, and before the elders of my people: if you will redeem it, redeem it, but if you will not redeem it, [then] tell me, and I shall know; for there is no one beside you to redeem [it], and I am after you. And he said, I am [here], I will redeem it.
5 And Boaz said, On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi and of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the deceased, you must also buy her, so as to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6 And the kinsman said, I shall not be able to redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance; you redeem my right for yourself, for I shall not be able to redeem [it].
7 And this [was] in former time the ordinance in Israel for redemption, and for a bargain, to confirm every word: A man loosed his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor that redeemed his right; and this was [for] a testimony in Israel.
8 And the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy my right for yourself. And he took off his shoe and gave it to him.
9 And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, You [are] witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon, from the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover I have bought for myself for a wife Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance; so the name of the dead shall not be destroyed from among his brothers, and from the tribe of his people: you [are] witnesses this day.
11 And all the people who were in the gate said, [We are] witnesses; and the elders said, The Lord make your wife who goes into your house, as Rachel and as Leah, who both [together] built the house of Israel, and wrought mightily in Ephratha, and there shall be a name [to you] in Bethlehem.
12 And let your house be as the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give you of this maidservant.
13 And Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her; and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.
14 And the woman said to Naomi, Blessed [is] the Lord, who has not allowed a redeemer to fail you this day, even to make your name famous in Israel.
15 And he shall be to you a restorer of your soul, and one to cherish [in] your old age; for your daughter-in-law who has loved you, who is better to you than seven sons, has born him.
16 And Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom, and became a nurse to it.
17 And the neighbors gave him a name, saying, A son has been born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed; this [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 And these [are] the generations of Perez: Perez begot Hezron;
19 Hezron begot Ram; and Ram begot Amminadab.
20 And Aminadab begot Nahshon; and Nahshon begot Salmon.
21 And Salmon begot Boaz; and Boaz begot Obed.
22 And Obed begot Jesse; and Jesse begot David.
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.