Have you heard? The VOICE

Thomas Nelson is introducing a new translation called "The Voice" very soon (from website HearTheVoice.com) --

...Previously most Bibles and biblical reference works were produced by professional scholars writing in academic settings. The Voice uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists. The goal is to create the finest Bible products to help believers experience the joy and wonder of God’s revelation. This is the first-ever complete New Testament in The Voice translation. Writers include Chris Seay, Lauren Winner, Brian McLaren, Greg Garrett, David B. Capes, and others...​

 

Yes, I believe the release date was October 28. I just rec'd an advance digital copy. As I read I will start to post some excerpts next week.

 

This the prologue to John's Gospel in The Voice (from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change). I could not reproduce the formatting 100% accurately here. They use italic type to indicate "words not directly tied to a dynamic translation of the original language" (from their Preface) --

1 Before time itself was measured, the
Voice was speaking. The Voice was and
is God. 2This celestial Voice remained
ever present with the Creator; 3His speech
shaped the entire cosmos. Immersed in the
practice of creating, all things that exist
were birthed in Him. 4His breath filled all
things with a living, breathing light. 5Light
that thrives in the depths of darkness, blazing
through murky bottoms. It cannot, and
will not, be quenched.
___6A man named John, who was sent by
God, was the first to clearly articulate the
source of this unquenchable Light. 7This
wanderer, John who ritually cleansed,* put
in plain words the elusive mystery of the
Divine Light that all might believe through
him. Because John spoke with power, many
believed in the Light. Others wondered
whether he might be the Light, 8but John
was not the Light.He merely pointed to
the Light; and in doing so, he invited the
entire creation to hear the Voice.
___9The true Light, who shines upon the
heart of everyone, was coming into the
cosmos. 10He does not call out from a distant
place but draws near. He enters our
world, a world He made and speaks clearly,
yet His creation did not recognize Him.
11Though the Voice utters only truth, His
own people, who have heard the Voice
before, rebuff this inner calling and refuse
to listen. 12But those who hear and trust the
beckoning of the Divine Voice and
embrace Him, they shall be reborn as children
of God, 13He bestows this birthright
not by human power or initiative but by
God’s will. Because we are born of this
world, we can only be reborn to God by
accepting His call.
___14The Voice that had been an enigma in
the heavens chose to become human and
live surrounded by His creations. We have
seen Him. Undeniable splendor enveloped
Him—the one true Son of God—evidenced
in the perfect balance of grace and truth.
15John, the wanderer who testified of the
Voice, introduced Him. “This is the one
I’ve been telling you is coming. He is much
greater than I because He existed long
before me.” 16Through this man we all
receive gifts of grace beyond our imagination.
He is the Voice of God. 17You see,
Moses gave us rules to live by, but Jesus
the Liberating King offered the gifts of
grace and truth which make life worth living.
18God, unseen until now, is revealed in
the Voice, God’s only Son, straight from the
Father’s heart.

* 1:7 Literally, immersed, to show repentance​

 

Probably one of the more interesting aspects of The Voice is that "to avoid the endless repetition of simple conjunctives, dialog is formatted as a screenplay {my emphasis}. The speaker is indicated, the dialog is indented, and quotation marks are not used. This helps greatly in the public reading of Scripture. Sometimes the original text includes interruptions in the dialog to indicate attitude of the speaker or who is being spoken to. This is shown either as a stage direction immediately following the speaker’s name or as part of the narrative section that immediately precedes the speaker’s name. The screenplay format clearly shows who is speaking." (from the Preface). Showing this formatting as best I can, here is more of John Chapter One --

19The words of the Immerser were gaining
attention, and many had questions, including
Jewish religious leaders from
Jerusalem. 28Their entourage approached
John in Bethany just beyond the Jordan
River while he was cleansing* followers in
water, and bombarded him with questions:*

Religious Leaders: Who are you?
John the Immerser: 20I’m not the Liberator, if
__that is what you are asking.
Religious Leaders: 21Your words sound familiar,
__like a prophet’s. Is that how we
__should address you? Are you the Prophet
__Elijah?
John the Immerser: No, I am not Elijah.
Religious Leaders: Are you the Prophet Moses
__told us would come?
John the Immerser: No.

They continued to press John, unsatisfied
with the lack of information.

Religious Leaders: 22Then tell us who you are
__and what you are about because everyone
__is asking us, especially the Pharisees,
__and we must prepare an answer.

23John replied with the words of Isaiah:

John the Immerser:
Listen! I am a voice calling out in the
____wilderness.
__Straighten out the road for the
____Lord. He’s on His way.*

24-25Then, some priests who were sent by
the Pharisees started in on him again.

Religious Leaders: How can you travel the
__countryside cleansing* people for their
__sins if you are not the Liberator or Elijah
__or the Prophet?
John the Immerser: 26Cleansing* with water
__is what I do, but the One whom I speak
__of, whom we all await, is standing among
__you and you have no idea who He is.
__27Though He comes after me, I am not
__even worthy to unlace His sandals.*


* 1:28 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
* 1:28 Verse 28 has been inserted here to help retain the
continuity of events.
* 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
* 1:24-25 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
* 1:26 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
* 1:27 Verse 28 has been moved before verse 20 to
retain the continuity of events.
​