« | Song of Solomon 6 | » |
1 "Where has your loved one gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your loved one turned, that we may look for him with you?"
2 "My love has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices. He has gone to feed his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies.
3 I am my love's, and my love is mine, he who feeds his flock among the lilies."
4 "You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my love, as beautiful as Jerusalem. You are to be feared as an army with flags.
5 Turn your eyes away from me, for they trouble me. Your hair is like a flock of goats that has come down from Gilead.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep which has come up from the washing. All of them give birth to two lambs at a time, and not one of them has lost her young.
7 The sides of your forehead are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your facecovering.
8 There are sixty queens, and eighty women kept who act like wives, and there are too many young women to number who have never had a man.
9 But my dove, my perfect one, is special. She is her mother's only daughter. She is the pure child of the one who gave birth to her. The young women saw her and knew she was honored. The queens and the women who act as wives praised her, saying,
10 'Who is this that looks out like the first light of day? She is as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun. She is to be feared as an army with flags.' "
11 "I went down to the field of nut trees to see the flowers of the valley, to see if the vines or the pomegranates had flowers.
12 Before I knew it, I wanted to be over the war-wagons of the princes of my people."
13 "Return, return, O Shulammite! Return, return, that we may look upon you!" "Why should you look upon the Shulammite, as upon a dance in front of two armies?"
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.