« | Zechariah 4 | » |
1 And the heavenly agent who talked with me came again, and awoke me, as a man who is awakened out of his sleep.
2 And he said to me, What do thou see? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps on it. There are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top of it,
3 and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side of it.
4 And I answered and spoke to the heavenly agent who talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the heavenly agent who talked with me answered and said to me, Do thou not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says LORD of hosts.
7 Who are thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shall become a plain, and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, to it.
8 Moreover the word of LORD came to me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it. And thou shall know that LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, the eyes of LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then I answered, and said to him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side of it?
12 And I answered the second time, and said to him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts that empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Do thou not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then he said, These are the two anointed ones, who stand by LORD of the whole earth.
A Conservative Version (ACV)
A Conservative Version (ACV) of the Bible is a translation that aims to provide a conservative and literal interpretation of the biblical texts. Developed with a focus on maintaining fidelity to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts, the ACV emphasizes a word-for-word translation methodology. The goal is to preserve the subtleties and nuances of the original languages as accurately as possible. This approach results in a version of the Bible that seeks to remain true to the text's original meaning and context, appealing to readers who prioritize precision and doctrinal integrity.
The text of the Old Testament for A Conservative Version (ACV) came from the American Standard Version published in 1901. The main changes done for the ACV were the replacement of archaic words with more modern ones, except for the old English pronouns, which were kept because they are more communicative. The New Testament was translated from, The New Testament in the Original Greek According to the Byzantine-Majority Text form. That edition was compiled by Maurice A. Robinson and William G. Pierpont, and is of the Textus Receptus tradition from which came the King James Version.
The ACV was created in response to what its translators saw as a trend toward more liberal or dynamic-equivalence translations that prioritize readability over literal accuracy. The translators aimed to produce a text that adheres closely to the original languages, even if this makes the translation more challenging for contemporary readers. This reflects their belief in the importance of preserving the exact words and phrases used in the original scriptures. The ACV also employs traditional theological terminology and phrasing, avoiding modern slang and colloquial expressions in favor of language that conveys the gravity and solemnity of the biblical message.
While the ACV has found appreciation among conservative circles, it has faced criticism for its perceived rigidity and difficulty. Critics argue that its strict adherence to a word-for-word translation can make the text less readable and accessible, potentially alienating readers unfamiliar with the original languages or who prefer a more fluid translation. Despite these criticisms, the ACV remains a valued translation for those who prioritize a conservative and literal approach to Bible interpretation, supporting their doctrinal views with a text they believe closely reflects the original scriptures.