I am usually reluctant to copy and paste endless scripture but today I will in order to make a point about "What is the best translation".
Many years ago I began attending the Church I am at now (Canadian Alliance) ...... I am somewhat a purist when it comes to literal and accurate translation and I was taken aback because they used the paraphrased New Living Translation.
I said nothing at the time and gave it a lot of thought for a year or so , and now I fully agree (to my surprise) with using that version from the pulpit.
Here is why: ....... It is a church of 300 -400 ... having a perfect mixture of children , teens , adults, and elderly. The kids understand it instantly.
But so do the adults .... no more trying to digest words in our mind trying to decide what it means. .... When NLT scripture is read it goes straight into the head and heart without pause. Something special about that. Fast pace understanding and learning.
Besides when you stop and think about it , .... if a speaker is using a "traditional version" ... He will first read it .... then spend 10 minutes trying to explain what it means .... and end up paraphrasing it anyway in his own words so that everybody understands it.
Then why not use the easy version from the start ?? .... Made sense to me.
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Lets do that right now as an example .... let me know if you agree or not .... below are the same verses from several translations
1. start with a hard one (Orthodox Jewish Bible) ....
2. then (King James Version) ....
3. then (New Living translation)
4. then (Easy Reading Version)
Orthodox Jewish Bible
25 Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: When I shall have gathered the Bais Yisroel from the people among whom they are scattered, and I shall show Myself as set apart as kodesh in them in the sight of the Goyim, then shall they dwell in their adamah (land) that I have given to Avdi Ya’akov (My servant Jacob).
KJV
25 Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
NLT
25 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel will again live in their own land, the land I gave my servant Jacob. For I will gather them from the distant lands where I have scattered them. I will reveal to the nations of the world my holiness among my people. 26 They will live safely in Israel and build homes and plant vineyards. And when I punish the neighboring nations that treated them with contempt, they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
Easy reading version
25 This is what the Lord GOD said: “I scattered the people of Israel among other nations, but I will gather the family of Israel together again. Then the nations will know that I am holy, and they will treat me that way. At that time the people of Israel will live in their land—I gave that land to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live safely in the land. They will build houses and plant vineyards. I will punish the nations around them that hated them. Then the people of Israel will live in safety, and they will know that I am the LORD their God.”
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Anyone else like the last two best ??? Comments welcome. Thanks.
KJV
25 Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
Key truth underlined agrees with the thought process of God. That He wants to be sanctified within us.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The other versions mess up all of these "truth links".
Axehead