« | Psalm 135 | » |
1 Let the Lord be praised. O you servants of the Lord, give praise to the name of the Lord.
2 You who are in the house of the Lord, and in the open spaces of the house of our God,
3 Give praise to Jah, for he is good: make melody to his name, for it is pleasing.
4 For the Lord has taken Jacob for himself, and Israel for his property.
5 I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is greater than all other gods.
6 The Lord has done whatever was pleasing to him, in heaven, and on the earth, in the seas and in all the deep waters.
7 He makes the mists go up from the ends of the earth; he makes thunder-flames for the rain; he sends out the winds from his store-houses.
8 He put to death the first-fruits of Egypt, of man and of beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders among you, O Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.
10 He overcame great nations, and put strong kings to death;
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan;
12 And gave their land for a heritage, even for a heritage to Israel his people.
13 O Lord, your name is eternal; and the memory of you will have no end.
14 For the Lord will be judge of his people's cause; his feelings will be changed to his servants.
15 The images of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but no voice, they have eyes, but they do not see;
17 They have ears, but no hearing; and there is no breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them are like them; and so is everyone who puts his hope in them.
19 Give praise to the Lord, O children of Israel: give praise to the Lord, O sons of Aaron:
20 Give praise to the Lord, O sons of Levi: let all the worshippers of the Lord give him praise.
21 Praise be to the Lord out of Zion, even to the Lord whose house is in Jerusalem, Let the Lord be praised.
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.