« | Zechariah 8 | » |
1 And the word of the Lord Almighty came, saying,
2 Thus says the Lord Almighty; I have been jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great jealousy, and I have been jealous for her with great fury.
3 Thus says the Lord; I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a true city, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty a holy mountain.
4 Thus says the Lord Almighty; There shall yet dwell old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem, everyone holding his staff in his hand for age.
5 And the broad places of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
6 Thus says the Lord Almighty; If it shall be impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible in My sight? Says the Lord Almighty.
7 Thus says the Lord Almighty; Behold, I [will] save My people from the east country, and the west country;
8 and I will bring them in, and cause [them] to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be to Me a people, and I will be to them a God, in truth and in righteousness.
9 Thus says the Lord Almighty; Let your hands be strong, [you that] hear in these days these words out of the mouth of the prophets, from the day that the house of the Lord Almighty was founded, and from the time that the temple was built.
10 For before those days the wages of men could not be profitable, and there could be no hire of cattle, and there could be no peace by reason of the affliction to him that went out or to him that came in, for I would have let loose all men, everyone against his neighbor.
11 But now I [will] not do to the remnant of this people according to the former days, says the Lord Almighty.
12 But I will show peace: the vine shall yield her fruit, and the land shall yield her produce, and the heaven shall give its dew: and I will give as an inheritance all these things to the remnant of My people.
13 And it shall come to pass, as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: be of good courage, and strengthen your hands.
14 For thus says the Lord Almighty; As I took counsel to afflict you when your fathers provoked Me, says the Lord Almighty, and I did not relent,
15 so have I prepared and taken counsel in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: be of good courage.
16 These are the things which you shall do: speak truth everyone with his neighbor; judge truth and peaceable judgment in your gates:
17 and let none of you devise evil in his heart against his neighbor, and love not a false oath: for all these things I hate, says the Lord Almighty.
18 And the word of the Lord Almighty came to me, saying,
19 Thus says the Lord Almighty, The fourth fast, and the fifth fast, and the seventh fast, and the tenth fast, shall be to the house of Judah for joy and gladness, and for good feasts; and you shall rejoice; therefore love the truth, and peace.
20 Thus says the Lord Almighty; Yet shall many peoples come, and the inhabitants of many cities;
21 and the inhabitants of five cities shall come together to one city, saying, Let us go to make supplication to the Lord, and to seek the face of the Lord Almighty; I will go also.
22 And many peoples and many nations shall come to seek earnestly the face of the Lord Almighty in Jerusalem, and to obtain [the] favor of the Lord.
23 Thus says the Lord Almighty; In those days [My word shall be fulfilled] if ten men of all the languages of the nations should take hold- even take hold of the hem of a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.