« | Psalm 72 | » |
1 Of Solomon. Give the king your authority, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
2 May he be a judge of your people in righteousness, and make true decisions for the poor.
3 May the mountains give peace to the people, and the hills righteousness.
4 May he be a judge of the poor among the people, may he give salvation to the children of those who are in need; by him let the violent be crushed.
5 May his life go on as long as the sun and moon, through all generations.
6 May he come down like rain on the cut grass; like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the upright do well, living in peace as long as there is a moon in heaven.
8 Let his kingdom be from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 Let those who are against him go down before him; and let his haters be low in the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands come back with offerings; let the kings of Sheba and Seba give of their stores.
11 Yes, let all kings go down before him; let all nations be his servants.
12 For he will be a saviour to the poor in answer to his cry; and to him who is in need, without a helper.
13 He will have pity on the poor, and be the saviour of those who are in need.
14 He will keep their souls free from evil designs and violent attacks; and their blood will be of value in his eyes.
15 May he have long life, and may gold from Sheba be given to him: may prayers be made for him at all times; may blessings be on him every day.
16 May there be wide-stretching fields of grain in the land, shaking on the top of the mountains, full of fruit like Lebanon: may its stems be unnumbered like the grass of the earth.
17 May his name go on for ever, as long as the sun: may men be blessing themselves by him; may all nations be blessing his name.
18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, the only doer of wonders.
19 Praise to the glory of his noble name for ever; let all the earth be full of his glory. So be it, So be it.
20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. A Psalm. Of Asaph.
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.