« | Psalm 34 | » |
1 Of David. When he made a change in his behaviour before Abimelech, who sent him away, and he went. I will be blessing the Lord at all times; his praise will be ever in my mouth.
2 My soul will say great things of the Lord: the poor in spirit will have knowledge of it and be glad.
3 O give praise to the Lord with me; let us be witnesses together of his great name.
4 I was searching for the Lord, and he gave ear to my voice, and made me free from all my fears.
5 Let your eyes be turned to him and you will have light, and your faces will not be shamed.
6 This poor man's cry came before the Lord, and he gave him salvation from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord is ever watching over those who have fear of him, to keep them safe.
8 By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him.
9 Keep yourselves in the fear of the Lord, all you his saints; for those who do so will have no need of anything.
10 The young lions are in need and have no food; but those who are looking to the Lord will have every good thing.
11 Come, children, give attention to me; I will be your teacher in the fear of the Lord.
12 What man has a love of life, and a desire that his days may be increased so that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from words of deceit.
14 Be turned from evil, and do good; make a search for peace, desiring it with all your heart.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.
17 The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near the broken-hearted; he is the saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down.
19 Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil will put an end to the sinner, and those who are haters of righteousness will come to destruction.
22 The Lord will be the saviour of the souls of his servants, and no one who has faith in him will be put to shame.
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.