« | Exodus 27 | » |
1 "Using acacia wood, construct a square altar 7-1/2 feet wide, 7-1/2 feet long, and 4-1/2 feet high.
2 Make horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar with bronze.
3 Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze.
4 Make a bronze grating for it, and attach four bronze rings at its four corners.
5 Install the grating halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge.
6 For carrying the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
7 Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar.
8 The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.
9 "Then make the courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side, make the curtains 150 feet long.
10 They will be held up by twenty posts set securely in twenty bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings.
11 Make the curtains the same on the north side-- 150 feet of curtains held up by twenty posts set securely in bronze bases. Hang the curtains with silver hooks and rings.
12 The curtains on the west end of the courtyard will be 75 feet long, supported by ten posts set into ten bases.
13 The east end of the courtyard, the front, will also be 75 feet long.
14 The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22-1/2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
15 The curtain on the left side will also be 22-1/2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it from finely woven linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Support it with four posts, each securely set in its own base.
17 All the posts around the courtyard must have silver rings and hooks and bronze bases.
18 So the entire courtyard will be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, with curtain walls 7-1/2 feet high, made from finely woven linen. The bases for the posts will be made of bronze.
19 "All the articles used in the rituals of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze.
20 "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
21 The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the LORD's presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.