« | Leviticus 18 | » |
1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the LORD your God.
3 So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.
4 You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the LORD your God.
5 If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD.
6 "You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the LORD.
7 "Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.
8 "Do not have sexual relations with any of your father's wives, for this would violate your father.
9 "Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else's.
10 "Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, for this would violate yourself.
11 "Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father's wives, for she is your sister.
12 "Do not have sexual relations with your father's sister, for she is your father's close relative.
13 "Do not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, for she is your mother's close relative.
14 "Do not violate your uncle, your father's brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt.
15 "Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
16 "Do not have sexual relations with your brother's wife, for this would violate your brother.
17 "Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.
18 "While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals.
19 "Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity.
20 "Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor's wife.
21 "Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the LORD.
22 "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.
23 "A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.
24 "Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways.
25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out.
26 You must obey all my decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.
27 "All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled.
28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.
29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel.
30 So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the LORD your God."
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.