« | Zephaniah 2 | » |
1 Be gathered and closely joined together, O unchastened nation;
2 before you become as the flower that passes away, before the anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the wrath of the Lord come upon you.
3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth; do judgment, and seek justice, and answer accordingly; that you may be hid in the day of the wrath of the Lord.
4 For Gaza shall be utterly forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be destroyed; and Azotus shall be cast forth at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5 Woe to them that dwell on the border of the sea, neighbors of the Cretans! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines, and I will destroy you out of your dwelling place.
6 And Crete shall be a pasture of flocks, and a fold of sheep.
7 And the sea coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall pasture upon them in the houses of Ashkelon; they shall rest in the evening because of the children of Judah; for the Lord their God has visited them, and He will turn away their captivity.
8 I have heard the revilings of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reviled My people, and magnified themselves against My coasts.
9 Therefore, as I live, says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah; and Damascus [shall be] left as a heap of the threshing floor, and desolate forever: and the remnant of My people shall plunder them, and the remnant of My nations shall inherit them.
10 This is their punishment in return for their haughtiness, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the Lord Almighty.
11 The Lord shall appear against them, and shall utterly destroy all the gods of the nations of the earth; and they shall worship Him everyone from his place, [even] all the islands of the nations.
12 You Ethiopians also are the slain of My sword.
13 And He shall stretch forth His hand against the north and destroy the Assyrian, and make Nineveh a dry wilderness, even as a desert.
14 And flocks, and all the wild beasts of the land, and chameleons shall feed in the midst thereof: and hedgehogs shall lodge in the ceilings thereof; and wild beasts shall cry in the breaches thereof, and ravens in her porches, whereas her loftiness was [as] a cedar.
15 [ 3:1] This is the scornful city that dwells securely, that says in her heart, I am, and there is no longer any [to be] after me: how has she become desolate, and a habitation of wild beasts! Everyone that passes through her shall hiss, and shake their hands [in contempt].
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.