« | Ruth 4 |
1 Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. He saw the in-law of the family that he had spoken about pass by. So Boaz said, "Come here, friend, and sit down." So the man came and sat down.
2 And Boaz took ten of the leaders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.
3 Then Boaz said to the close in-law, "Naomi has returned from the land of Moab. She is selling the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 I thought I should let you know about it. Buy it in front of those who are sitting here, and in front of the leaders of my people. If you will buy it, then buy it. But if not, tell me you do not want to buy it, so I may know. For you have the right to be the first one to buy it. And I am after you." The man said, "I will buy it."
5 Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from Naomi, you must take Ruth, the Moabite woman, also. She is the wife of the dead man. You must keep alive the name of the dead man on his land."
6 Then the close in-law said, "I cannot buy it for myself because it might be that my own children would not be able to own my land later. Take it for yourself. I give you my right to buy it, for I cannot buy it."
7 This is what was done before in Israel to show that the buying or trading of land was decided upon. A man would take off his shoe and give it to another. This would make sure what was decided.
8 So he said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he took off his shoe.
9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You have seen today that I have bought from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, to Chilion and to Mahlon.
10 And I have taken Ruth, the Moabite woman who was Mahlon's wife, to be my wife. I will keep alive the name of the dead man on his land. His name will not be forgotten among his brothers or from the gate of his birth-place. You have heard this today."
11 All the people in the gate and the leaders said, "We have heard it. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel. May you become rich in Ephrathah and be known by all in Bethlehem.
12 May your house be like the house of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar, because of the children the Lord will give you by this young woman."
13 So Boaz took Ruth. She became his wife, and he went in to her. The Lord made it possible for her to have a child and she gave birth to a son.
14 The women said to Naomi, "Thanks be to the Lord. He has not left you without a family this day. May his name become known in all of Israel.
15 May he bring you new life and strength while you are old. For your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
16 Then Naomi took the child and held him, and became his nurse.
17 The neighbor women gave him a name. They said, "A son has been born to Naomi!" And they called him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 Now these are the children of Perez. Perez was the father of Hezron.
19 Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab.
20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
21 Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed.
22 Obed was the father of Jesse. And Jesse was the father of David.
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.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.