Zechariah 1 | » |
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah the man of God, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,
2 "The Lord was very angry with your fathers.
3 So tell them, 'The Lord of All says, "Return to Me, that I may return to you.
4 Do not be like your fathers. The men who spoke for Me in the past told them, 'The Lord of All says, "Return from your sinful ways and from your sinful works." ' But they did not listen to Me," says the Lord.
5 "Where are your fathers now? And the men who spoke for Me, do they live forever?
6 I gave My Words and My Laws to your fathers through My servants who spoke for Me. But they would not listen and so they were punished. Then they were sorry for their sins and said, 'The Lord of All has punished us for our ways and our works, as He said He would.' " ' "
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah the man of God, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.
8 During the night while I was sleeping I saw a man traveling on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the narrow valley, with red, brown, and white horses behind him.
9 I asked, "My lord, what are these?" And the angel who was speaking with me said, "I will show you what these are."
10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees said, "These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to travel all over the earth to keep watch."
11 And they said to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have looked over all the earth, and saw that the whole earth is at rest and in peace."
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, "O Lord of All, how long will You have no loving-pity for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You have been angry with them for seventy years now."
13 And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.
14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "Make this known: 'The Lord of All says, "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.
15 But I am very angry with the nations who take it easy. When I was only a little angry, they added to the trouble."
16 So the Lord says, "I will return to Jerusalem with loving-pity. My house will be built in it and all Jerusalem will be built again," says the Lord of All.
17 Also make this known: 'The Lord of All says, "My cities will again be filled with riches. The Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem." ' "
18 Then I looked up and saw four horns.
19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these?" And he said, "These are the horns which have divided the people of Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
20 Then the Lord showed me four workmen.
21 I said, "What are these coming to do?" And he said, "These are the horns which have sent the people of Judah everywhere, so that no man raised his head. But these workmen have come to make them afraid and to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah so the people would be sent everywhere."
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.