« | Zechariah 13 | » |
1 "On that day a well of water will be opened for the family of David and for the people of Jerusalem to make them clean from their sin.
2 "On that day," says the Lord of All, "I will destroy the names of the false gods from the land. They will no longer be remembered. And I will take away from the land those who tell what will happen in the future and the unclean spirit.
3 If anyone still tells what will happen in the future, his father and mother who gave birth to him will tell him, 'You must not live, because you have lied in the name of the Lord.' And his father and mother who gave birth to him will kill him when he speaks false words.
4 On that day those who tell what will happen in the future will each be ashamed of his special dream when he speaks. He will not put on clothing made from hair to fool the people.
5 But he will say, 'I am not a man who speaks for God. I am a farmer. A man sold me as a servant when I was young.'
6 If someone asks him, 'What are these sores on your back?' he will answer, 'They are the sores I received in the house of my friends.'
7 "Wake up, O sword, against My shepherd and against the man who is close to Me," says the Lord of All. "Kill the shepherd, and the sheep will go everywhere. And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 In the whole land," says the Lord, "twothirds will die, but one-third will be left alive.
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire. I will make them pure like silver is made pure. I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are My people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.' "
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.