« | Psalm 94 | » |
1 O God, in whose hands is punishment, O God of punishment, let your shining face be seen.
2 Be lifted up, O judge of the earth; let their reward come to the men of pride.
3 How long will sinners, O Lord, how long will sinners have joy over us?
4 Words of pride come from their lips; all the workers of evil say great things of themselves.
5 Your people are crushed by them, O Lord, your heritage is troubled,
6 They put to death the widow and the guest, they take the lives of children who have no father;
7 And they say, Jah will not see it, the God of Jacob will not give thought to it.
8 Give your mind to my words, you who are without wisdom among the people; you foolish men, when will you be wise?
9 Has he by whom your ears were planted no hearing? or is he blind by whom your eyes were formed?
10 He who is the judge of the nations, will he not give men the reward of their acts, even he who gives knowledge to man?
11 The Lord has knowledge of the thoughts of man, for they are only a breath.
12 Happy is the man who is guided by you, O Jah, and to whom you give teaching out of your law;
13 So that you may give him rest from the days of evil, till a hole is made ready for the destruction of the sinners.
14 The Lord will not give up his people, or take away his support from his heritage;
15 But decisions will again be made in righteousness; and they will be kept by all whose hearts are true.
16 Who will give me help against the sinners? and who will be my support against the workers of evil?
17 If the Lord had not been my helper, my soul would quickly have gone down into death.
18 If I say, My foot is slipping; your mercy, O Lord, is my support.
19 Among all my troubled thoughts, your comforts are the delight of my soul.
20 What part with you has the seat of sin, which makes evil into a law?
21 They are banded together against the soul of the upright, to give decisions against those who have done no wrong.
22 But the Lord is my safe resting-place; my God is the Rock where I am safe.
23 And he has made their evil designs come back on themselves, cutting them off in their sin; the Lord our God will put an end to them.
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.