« | Exodus 37 | » |
1 Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood-- a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
2 He overlaid it inside and outside with pure gold, and he ran a molding of gold all around it.
3 He cast four gold rings and attached them to its four feet, two rings on each side.
4 Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
5 He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
6 Then he made the Ark's cover-- the place of atonement-- from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.
7 He made two cherubim from hammered gold and placed them on the two ends of the atonement cover.
8 He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold.
9 The cherubim faced each other and looked down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they protected it.
10 Then Bezalel made the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
11 He overlaid it with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge.
12 He decorated it with a 3-inch border all around, and he ran a gold molding along the border.
13 Then he cast four gold rings for the table and attached them at the four corners next to the four legs.
14 The rings were attached near the border to hold the poles that were used to carry the table.
15 He made these poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
16 Then he made special containers of pure gold for the table-- bowls, pans, jars, and pitchers-- to be used in pouring out liquid offerings.
17 Then Bezalel made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. He made the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece-- the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals.
18 The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.
19 Each of the six branches had three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals.
20 The center stem of the lampstand was crafted with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals.
21 There was an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extended from the center stem, all made of one piece.
22 The almond buds and branches were all of one piece with the center stem, and they were hammered from pure gold.
23 He also made seven lamps for the lampstand, lamp snuffers, and trays, all of pure gold.
24 The entire lampstand, along with its accessories, was made from seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
25 Then Bezalel made the incense altar of acacia wood. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself.
26 He overlaid the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and he ran a gold molding around the entire altar.
27 He made two gold rings and attached them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles.
28 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
29 Then he made the sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense, using the techniques of a skilled incense maker.
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.