« | Psalm 105 | » |
1 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.
4 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
7 He is the LORD our God. His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant-- the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
9 This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
11 "I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession."
12 He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
13 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
14 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
15 "Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets."
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them-- Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household; he became ruler over all the king's possessions.
22 He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the LORD multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies.
25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the LORD's servants.
26 But the LORD sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The LORD blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go.
29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king's bedrooms.
31 When the LORD spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came-- young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
37 The LORD brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly.
39 The LORD spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
40 They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna-- bread from heaven.
41 He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland.
42 For he remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham.
43 So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted.
45 All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the LORD!
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.