« | Psalm 132 | » |
1 A Song of the going up. Lord, give thought to David, and to all his troubles;
2 How he made an oath to the Lord, and gave his word to the great God of Jacob, saying,
3 Truly, I will not come into my house, or go to my bed,
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes, or rest to my eyeballs,
5 Till I have got a place for the Lord, a resting-place for the great God of Jacob.
6 We had news of it at Ephrathah: we came to it in the fields of the wood.
7 Let us go into his tent; let us give worship at his feet.
8 Come back, O Lord, to your resting-place; you and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let your saints give cries of joy.
10 Because of your servant David, do not give up your king.
11 The Lord gave a true oath to David, which he will not take back, saying, I will give your kingdom to the fruit of your body.
12 If your children keep my word, and the teachings which I will give them, their children will be rulers of your kingdom for ever.
13 For the Lord's heart is on Zion, desiring it for his resting-place.
14 This is my rest for ever: here will I ever be; for this is my desire.
15 My blessing will be on her food; and her poor will be full of bread.
16 Her priests will be clothed with salvation; and her saints will give cries of joy.
17 There I will make the horn of David fertile: I have made ready a light for my king.
18 His haters will be clothed with shame; but I will make his crown shining.
The Bible in Basic English (BBE)
The Bible in Basic English (BBE) is a translation of the Bible that aims to make the scriptures accessible to people with limited English proficiency. Completed in 1941 by Professor Samuel Henry Hooke and a team of scholars, the BBE utilizes a simplified vocabulary of approximately 1,000 basic English words, along with additional words necessary to maintain the integrity of the biblical text. This approach ensures that the translation is easily understandable while still conveying the core messages and teachings of the Bible.
One of the defining features of the BBE is its commitment to simplicity and clarity. By using a restricted vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures, the BBE makes it easier for readers to grasp the fundamental ideas of the scriptures without being hindered by complex language. This makes the BBE particularly valuable for non-native English speakers, children, and individuals with limited literacy skills. The translation aims to break down language barriers, allowing a broader audience to engage with Bible teachings.
Despite its simplified language, the BBE strives to remain faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translators worked carefully to ensure that the essential meanings and theological concepts were preserved, even as they adapted the language to be more accessible. This balance of simplicity and fidelity to the original texts helps maintain the Bible’ s depth and spiritual richness while making it more approachable. The BBE’ s emphasis on clarity without sacrificing essential meaning has made it a useful tool for teaching and evangelism.
However, the BBE has faced some criticism, particularly from scholars and theologians who argue that the simplification process may lead to the loss of some nuances and deeper meanings present in the original languages. Some feel that the restricted vocabulary can oversimplify complex theological concepts, potentially limiting the reader’ s understanding of the full depth of the scriptures. Despite these criticisms, the Bible in Basic English remains a valuable resource for those seeking an easily understandable version of the Bible, providing a bridge for many to access the timeless messages contained within the holy scriptures.