« | Song of Solomon 6 | » |
1 Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside, That we may seek him with you? THE SHULAMITE
2 My beloved has gone to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed [his flock] in the gardens, And to gather lilies.
3 I [am] my beloved's, And my beloved [is] mine. He feeds [his flock] among the lilies. THE BELOVED
4 O my love, you [are as] beautiful as Tirzah, Lovely as Jerusalem, Awesome as [an army] with banners!
5 Turn your eyes away from me, For they have overcome me. Your hair [is] like a flock of goats Going down from Gilead.
6 Your teeth [are] like a flock of sheep Which have come up from the washing; Every one bears twins, And none [is] barren among them.
7 Like a piece of pomegranate [Are] your temples behind your veil.
8 There are sixty queens And eighty concubines, And virgins without number.
9 My dove, my perfect one, Is the only one, The only one of her mother, The favorite of the one who bore her. The daughters saw her And called her blessed, The queens and the concubines, And they praised her.
10 Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as [an army] with banners? THE SHULAMITE
11 I went down to the garden of nuts To see the verdure of the valley, To see whether the vine had budded [And] the pomegranates had bloomed.
12 Before I was even aware, My soul had made me [As] the chariots of my noble people. THE BELOVED AND HIS FRIENDS
13 Return, return, O Shulamite; Return, return, that we may look upon you! THE SHULAMITE What would you see in the Shulamite -- As it were, the dance of the two camps? THE BELOVED
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.