« | Song of Solomon 6 | » |
1 Where has your Beloved gone, most beautiful among women? Where has your Beloved turned? For we seek Him along with you.
2 My Beloved has gone down to His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.
3 I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine; He feeds among the lilies.
4 O my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as inspiring as an army with banners.
5 Turn away your eyes from Me, for they have overcome Me; your hair is like a flock of goats that appears from Gilead.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes which go up from the washing; they all are bearing twins, and a barren one is not among them.
7 Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate.
8 There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
9 But My dove, My undefiled is one alone. She is the only one of her mother. She is the choice of her who bore her. The daughters saw her and blessed her; the queens and the concubines saw her, and they praised her.
10 Who is she who looks forth like the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as armies with banners?
11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the greenery of the valley, to see whether the vine flowered and the pomegranates budded.
12 I did not know, but my soul set me on the chariots of my princely people.
13 Return, return, O Shulamite! Return, return, that we may look on you. What will you see in the Shulamite? As it were the dance of two camps.
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have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time.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.