« | Zechariah 9 | » |
1 The burden of the word of the Lord, in the land of Hadrach, and His sacrifice shall be in Damascus; for the Lord looks upon men, and upon all the tribes of Israel.
2 And in Hamath, even in her coasts, are Tyre and Sidon, because they were very wise.
3 And Tyre built strongholds for herself, and heaped up silver as dust, and gathered gold as the mire of the ways.
4 And therefore the Lord will take them for a possession, and will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be consumed with fire.
5 Ashkelon shall see and fear; Gaza also, and shall be greatly pained, and Ekron; for she is ashamed at her trespass; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6 And aliens shall dwell in Azotus, and I will bring down the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will take their blood out of their mouth, and their abominations from between their teeth; and these also shall be left to our God, and they shall be as a captain of a thousand in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
8 And I will set up a defense for My house, that they may not pass through, nor turn back, neither shall an oppressor come upon them to drive them away: for now have I seen with My eyes.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your King is coming to you, righteous, and [your] Savior; He is meek and riding on a donkey, a young foal of a donkey.
10 And He shall destroy the chariots out of Ephraim, and the horse out of Jerusalem, and the bow of war shall be utterly destroyed; and there shall be abundance and peace out of the nations; and He shall rule over the waters as far as the sea, and the rivers to the ends of the earth.
11 And you, by the blood of your covenant, have sent forth your prisoners out of the waterless pit.
12 You shall dwell in strongholds, you prisoners of the congregation: and for one day of your captivity I will recompense you double.
13 For I have bent you, O Judah, for Myself as a bow, I have filled Ephraim; and I will raise up your children, O Zion, against the children of the Greeks, and I will handle you as the sword of a warrior.
14 And the Lord shall be over them, and His arrow shall go forth as lightning: and the Lord Almighty shall blow with the trumpet; and shall proceed with the tumult of His threatening.
15 The Lord Almighty shall protect them, and they shall destroy them, and overwhelm them with slingstones; and they shall swallow them down as wine, and fill the bowls as the altar.
16 And the Lord their God shall save them in that day, even His people as a flock; for holy stones are rolled upon His land.
17 For if He has anything good, and if He has anything fair, the young men shall have grain, and there shall be fragrant wine to the virgins.
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.