« | Song of Solomon 7 | » |
1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! The curves of your thighs [are] like jewels, The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
2 Your navel [is] a rounded goblet; It lacks no blended beverage. Your waist [is] a heap of wheat Set about with lilies.
3 Your two breasts [are] like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle.
4 Your neck [is] like an ivory tower, Your eyes [like] the pools in Heshbon By the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose [is] like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.
5 Your head [crowns] you like [Mount] Carmel, And the hair of your head [is] like purple; A king [is] held captive by [your] tresses.
6 How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!
7 This stature of yours is like a palm tree, And your breasts [like] its clusters.
8 I said, "I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches." Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine, The fragrance of your breath like apples,
9 And the roof of your mouth like the best wine. THE SHULAMITE [The wine] goes [down] smoothly for my beloved, Moving gently the lips of sleepers.
10 I [am] my beloved's, And his desire [is] toward me.
11 Come, my beloved, Let us go forth to the field; Let us lodge in the villages.
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, [Whether] the grape blossoms are open, [And] the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes give off a fragrance, And at our gates [are] pleasant [fruits,] All manner, new and old, Which I have laid up for you, my 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.