Bible Versions

                        Q: a) "Why So Many Bible Versions? "_& b) "Are they all the Same?"

Short Answers - A: Greed   & Technology!       B: No they are not all the same!

A: Indeed there are many Bible versions today, it seems like there's a new one every couple of month's. Even ones that are personalized with commentary from various gospel ministers. Bibles are now available in all of the worlds popular languages as well, including paraphrasing into children, teen, and casual language styles.

Most people that study the bible use various translations, including Greek and Hebrew dictionaries/lexicons, encyclopedias and other reference books to obtain a more accurate sense of what God has spoken through His servants - who have recorded what the Holy Spirit moved them to record. (for more info see our Q&A article "What is the Bible?")

There are paper version Bibles, and there are electronic version Bibles available on personal electronic devices, on the internet for reading, copying & pasting, and/or downloading. Bible Gateway, Bible Hub and other internet based Bible resources provide a wide variety of translations not just in English but in many other languages.

One popular Bible APP for smartphones is "YouVersion" Bible, which offers a large variety of Bible versions that can be viewed online or downloaded permanently to your smartphone. There are also great computer versions such as E-SWORD where you can start off with a basic free version containing multiple translations and study helps.

The advent of the personal computer age has made it possible for the gospel to be preached, (at least published) to all the ends of the earth. The angel told Daniel that at the time of the end knowledge shall be increased, and so indeed that prophecy has been fulfilled.

Jude 1:3 (KJ21) " Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."

Unfortunately most Christians are not very vigilant these days when it comes to protecting the "word of God" or contending for the faith -and that is because most do not know "it" very well. There are undeniable reasons why originals are better than knockoffs, and why vintage art like Picassos, instruments brands like Stradivarius, vintage Gibson, Fender, Martin guitars, etc. command the biggest auction prices. It is because they are the best! When we are told by Jesus to live by every word that has proceeded from the mouth of God, He meant it, but if you read an NIV for example you would not know that because that verse has been omitted. This might equate to holding up a rusty corroded sword vs. a gleaming razor sharp two-edged sword against our enemy Satan.

Luke 4:4 NIV "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone." (also ESV, ESV, BSB, NAS, HCS, NLT, etc.)
Luke 4:4 KJV "And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
Luke 4:4 Aramaic Bible in Plain English "Yeshua answered and said to him, “It is written: a man does not live by bread alone, but by every utterance of God.”
Luke 4:4 Young's Literal Translation "And Jesus answered him, saying, 'It hath been written, that, not on bread only shall man live, but on every saying of God."

Some publishers use one manuscript for one part, a less reliable manuscript for another part or verse just to be DIFFERENT!
As far as $$$ being a huge motivator of the different versions or translations in English - that is for sure see part B next!

"...in order for the Bible publishers to obtain a copyright for their "latest version" - they must change, alter or omit words to have their latest product engineered to be significantly different from other existing versions including the old King James version." (Otherwise they would be in court for copyright infringement.)

B: As far as different translations, versions of the bible, they are definitely not all the same!

Well plainly speaking - it is because companies desire $$$ that they have created various versions of the Bible to market. If they are a bible publisher that is what they do. Some argue that Christians should have taken control of the bible publishing process, but there is no way that they could have had a monopoly, and we would still be where we are at now, even with "bibles" where God is now a woman or there are no genders etc.

One of the clearly evident problems in having so many different variations is that now it is impossible for people to quote the same verses using the same words. Some people even get different meanings from scriptures that would not happen using an "agreed or authorized" version. We have seen preachers in the pulpit for some years now with their sermon scriptures being displayed on the overhead screen with a different version from what they are reading, and sometimes they will say..."No! Not that version!..can you put up 'that (other) version' please? Thank you!" and so it goes.

Then there are the paraphrased versions that can in no way be nor would you want to quote them except in special circumstances -because there are times they can be helpful to clarify a "word for word translation" based on the original Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek text. There has always been a desire for many who study scripture to get at the most authentic meaning by using Hebrew and Greek dictionaries and because the KJV was referenced by Strong's Concordance to the original Hebrew and Greek that has been a big plus for the popular King James Bible version (KJV).

The reason some versions/translations differ so much with the others - especially from the "original" KJV or NASB is because there are so many versions of the Bible now! You say "What???" Good question.

Well in order for the Bible publishers to obtain a copyright for their "latest version" - they must change, alter or omit words to have their latest product engineered to be significantly different from other existing versions including the old King James version.(Otherwise they would be in court all day for copyright infringement.)

Because the KJV was the first commonly used mass produced English Bible (even though it is usually the 1769 standard Cambridge version being sold these days as the 'authorised 1611 version') most subsequent Bible versions have became more distant from the original manuscripts used. And that again is because their text/version must be significantly different from the many other publications now in existence as not to infringe on those publishing copyrights.

Still the most popular and reliable bible version of all time in the English language is the King James Version (KJV), and its modern equivalent namely the Easy Read King James Version (KJVER). The KJV is not copyrighted (except in the UK) and is freely available for use in the public domain. The New American Standard Bible is also quite a good word for word version.

Now some folks are quite fanatical about the 1611 KJV and "say" they will not read any other version. Wikipedia says.."The King James Only movement advocates the superiority of the King James Version over all other English translations. Most adherents of the movement believe that the Textus Receptus is very close, if not identical, to the original autographs thereby making it the ideal Greek source for the translation. They argue that most modern English translations are based on a corrupted New Testament text that relies primarily on the Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus manuscripts."

The name "JESUS" is not even found in the 1611 KJV! ( no "J''s in them days)

However while most KJV folks think they are reading the 1611 version they are actually reading the 1769 version or later with thousands of changes. For example in the 1611 there are many "f"'s used in place of many "s", plus there are no "J"s and the letter "V"' is switched with letter "U". The Book of Joshua looks like this "ioshua" (no "j's). Jesus is Iesus in the 1611 KJV

               In fact there has been over 24,000 changes to the original 1611 KJV authorized version to arrive at what is now the commonly used and sold KJV Authorized version (1769).

Here is a comparison example of just 3 verses from 1Corinthians:

[1611] 1. Though I fpeake with the tongues of men & of Angels, and haue not charity, I am become as founding braffe or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I haue the gift of prophefie, and vnderstand all myfteries and all knowledge: and though I haue all faith, so that I could remooue mountaines, and haue no charitie, I am nothing. 3 And though I beftowe all my goods to feede the poore, and though I giue my body to bee burned, and haue not charitie, it profiteth me nothing.

[1769] 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Now if you can read the KJV that is good for you - and it along with the NASB is arguably one of the closest word for word English translations based on the most reliable original manuscripts (there are many arguments for best English version both for and against). Although as mentioned above the new KJV Easy Read (Sword Edition) is a modern version with almost no major primary word changes other than thee's, thou's and heareth, seeth (eth's) and similar out of date verbage - unlike the NKJV that suffers from multiple issues.

What's that about the New King James Version?

So while the KJV is not perfect (but it is in the top 2 or 3) its modern day competitor the "New King James Version" (NKJV) on the other hand has many "serious" primary word changes. Again mostly because under copyright law they have to have a required percentage of altered words in order to be considered "different" enough to warrant a copyright. Not just different from the KJV but also different from the other competing modern translations.

For example compared to the KJV: in the NKJV, Hell is removed 23 times in 2 Sam. 22:6, Job 11:8, 26:6, Psalm 16:10, 18:5, 86:13, 116:3, Isaiah 5:14, 14:15, 28:15,18, 57:9, Jonah 2:2, Matt. 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Acts 2:27, 31, Rev. 1:18, 6:8, 20:13,14 and compare this in Luke 16:23:

Luke 16:23
          KJV:    "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
          NKJV: "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

"Repent" is omitted or taken out 44 times. Now that is one word you would think would never be taken out of the bible, because it is part of the salvation process! Jesus began His ministry by preaching "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". Jesus said "he who repents and is baptized shall be saved", and the apostles preached the same to the NT church starting at Pentecost. But the NKJV publisher claims that they changed it to make it "much clearer". For example in Matthew 21:32 they use "relent" while in Matthew 27:3 it's "remorseful" and in Romans 11:29 they change "repentance" to "irrevocable". Repent actually means to turn around - do a 180 - from practicing sin to practicing righteousness like 1 John 3 and dozens of other like scriptures and teachings and parables of Jesus speak of.

Once a publication messes around with key foundational issues - that presents a problem - especially if it is the only version a person has. If your own bible version is unable to provide you with (as Jesus told Satan) "every word that has proceeded out of the mouth of God" well then that seems like an attack. It is hard enough to hear preachers preach/teach the true word anymore without having to deal with doctrinal issues based on different versions of the bible. The Word of God is the "Sword of the Spirit" that God wants us to have & use in our fight against strongholds, principalities & powers and spiritual wickedness. Let's pick out the sharpest one we can find.

Hebrews 10:4,5 (Aramaic English) says "For the word of God is living and all-efficient, and much sharper than a double edged sword, and it pierces to the separation of soul and spirit and of joints, marrow and of bones, and judges the reasoning and conscience of the heart.And there is no created thing hidden from before Him, but everything is naked and open before the eyes of Him to whom we give an account."

The term "new testament" is also not in the NKJV. (see Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 9:15,) The NKJV replaces "new testament" with "new covenant" (as does the NIV, NRSV, RSV, NASV). Testament refers to the death and will of the testator (Jesus).

The word "damned", "damnation" is excluded in the NKJV being replaced with "condemn" (same with NIV, RSV, NRSV, NASV). "Condemned" is not even close to "damned". Damned is eternal. One can be "condemned" and not be "damned". Romans 14:22 says, ". . . Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." Webster defines "condemned": to declare to be wrong, but the much more serious and eternal "damn": "to condemn to hell". [however sometimes condemned is a better choice because using the "KJV only" same argument how can you receive "greater damnation"? ( degree of punishment yes)]

Here's a few more examples (using primary source http://www.av1611.org/nkjv.html )
The word "devils" (the singular, person called the "devil" is) is also not in the NKJV. Replaced with the "transliterated" Greek word "demon" (ditto NIV, RSV, NRSV, NASV). The Theosophical Dictionary describes demon as: ". . . it has a meaning identical with that of 'god', 'angel' or 'genius'". Even Vines Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (p.157) defines "demon" as: "an inferior deity, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD". Webster defines "demon" as: "divinity, spirit, an attendant power or spirit", but "devil" as: "the personal supreme spirit of EVIL. . ."

In 2 Timothy 2:15, the KJV is one of the few English Bibles (Douay-Rheims & Webster) that instructs you to "study" your Bible!"   Others say to (diligently) prepare to present yourself approved by God as a teacher/worker/laborer etc when handling (as in teaching/instructing/preaching) the Word of God.

One of the most absurd changes ever made is changing the word "servant" to "slave"!

The NKJV in Romans 6:22, reads: "But now having been set FREE from sin, and having become SLAVES OF GOD. . ." The NKJV, in 1 Corinthians 7:22, calls the Christian, "Christ's slave". Talk about a contradiction! John 8:36 says, "If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED." But isn't a Christian supposed to serve? Yes, in love. Not as a slave! Galatians 5:13 explains it, perfectly: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto LIBERTY;(not slavery!) only use not LIBERTY for an occasion to the flesh, but BY LOVE SERVE one another."

KJV only contend that "In order to "harmonize" with the satanic New Age Movement (and of course the NIV, NASV, RSV, NRSV!), the NKJV changes "end of the WORLD" to "end of the AGE"! And in it's no longer the "WORLD to come" but "AGE to come". The New Age Movement teaches a series of ages (hence the name: New AGE). See Matthew 12:32, 13:39, 13:40, 13:49, 24:3, 28:20, Mark 10:30, Luke 13:30, 20:34,35, 1 Cor 1:21. "

Well you could read the rest of their (KJV only folks) position here ( http://www.av1611.org/nkjv.html ) if you are interested in why the KJV only folks are against all the other versions. They make a strong case that the NKJV cover symbol is satanic for one thing. There are also a number of anti-KJV only sites so it can get quite time consuming.

As we have looked at here in this article there definitely are some very clear reasons why many versions are inferior to the KJV, NASB, ESV, etc in presenting the scriptures that the early church preserved for us in the 2nd century including the Tanakh. And some versions are much worse than others. Then again some versions have plainly been vandalized or butchered.

Could God still use some of them or most of them? God can use anything, even just a dream or a vision or even a song, but that is no reason not to desire His will and His best for us. The question rather should be "why would we want to establish our faith by using inferior knockoffs manufactured to make the publisher $$$". Better to build on the Rock - the sayings of the Word made Flesh - Jesus Christ.

Here is a somewhat dated comparison chart of word to word English translations

The KJV only folks argument has some more merit especially when comparing the KJV to other bible versions such as the New International Version (NIV). Because many bible versions are better than no Word at all (most of us have choice -but some may not), when compared to the KJV, the NIV falls way way short. Below is an example of the NIV changes and omissions. (You could just Google "bible versions changes omissions" if you wanted to check your own favorite Bible version to see how it stacks up.)

Here is some info on the NIV -which is quite alarming when comparing it to original manuscripts. It is still a very popular version, but the majority of its readers have no clue what is missing and what has been changed in it. Many in the know claim it is quite a subtle attack on the deity and teachings of Jesus.

NIV Shortcomings:
(The following list was taken from Salliby's "If the Foundations Be Destroyed"
=============================================================================
The following list was taken from Salliby's "If the Foundations Be Destroyed",
but "Moorman's Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version list many more."

NAMES AND TITLES OF JESUS OMITTED IN THE NIV
An asterisk (*) indicates that the NIV substituted the title with an inferior name or title. [who would do that? ($$$)]
Matt. 8:29......................................Jesus
Matt. 9:28......................................Jesus
Matt. 13:36.....................................Jesus
Matt. 13:51......................................Lord
Matt. 15:30....................................Jesus'
Matt. 16:20.....................................Jesus
Matt. 17:20.....................................Jesus
Matt. 17:22.....................................Jesus
Matt. 18:2......................................Jesus
Matt. 18:11................................Son of man
Matt. 19:16..............................*Good Master
Matt. 23:8.....................................Christ
Matt. 23:10...................................*Master
Matt. 24:2......................................Jesus
Matt. 25:13................................Son of man
Matt. 27:24...............................just person
Matt. 28:6.......................................Lord
Mark 2:19..................................bridegroom
Mark 5:13.......................................Jesus
Mark 7:27.......................................Jesus
Mark 9:24........................................Lord
Mark 11:10.......................................Lord
Mark 11:14......................................Jesus
Mark 14:18......................................Jesus
Mark 14:45..........................master (or Rabbi)
Luke 4:41......................................Christ
Luke 7:22.......................................Jesus
Luke 7:31........................................Lord
Luke 9:35................................*beloved Son
Luke 9:56..................................Son of man
Luke 9:57........................................Lord
Luke 13:25.......................................Lord
Luke 17:6........................................Lord
Luke 22:31.......................................Lord
Luke 23:42.......................................Lord
John 4:16.......................................Jesus
John 4:42......................................Christ
John 4:46.......................................Jesus
John 6:69......................................Christ
John 6:69......................*Son of the Living God
John 8:20.......................................Jesus
John 8:35.....................................the Son
John 9:35.................................*Son of God
John 11:14......................................Jesus
John 11:39......................................Jesus
John 13:23......................................Jesus
John 19:38......................................Jesus
John 20:15......................................Jesus
John 21:5.......................................Jesus
John 21:21......................................Jesus
Acts 2:30......................................Christ
Acts 3:13....................................*his Son
Acts 3:23.....................................prophet
Acts 3:26....................................*his Son
Acts 3:26.......................................Jesus
Acts 4:27.................................*holy child
Acts 4:30.................................*holy child
Acts 7:30........................................Lord
Acts 8:37................................Jesus Christ
Acts 8:37..................................Son of God
Acts 9:5.........................................Lord
Acts 9:6.................................Lord (twice)
Acts 9:29.......................................Jesus
Acts 15:11.....................................Christ
Acts 15:18........................................God
Acts 16:31.....................................Christ
Acts 19:4......................................Christ
Acts 19:10......................................Jesus
Acts 20:21.....................................Christ
Acts 22:16.......................................Lord
Rom. 1:16......................................Christ
Rom. 6:11........................................Lord
Rom. 14:6........................................Lord
Rom. 15:8.......................................Jesus
Rom. 16:18......................................Jesus
Rom. 16:20.....................................Christ
Rom. 16:24..........................Lord Jesus Christ
I Cor. 5:4.............................Christ (twice)
I Cor. 5:5......................................Jesus
I Cor. 9:1.....................................Christ
I Cor. 9:18....................................Christ
I Cor. 10:28...................................Lord's
I Cor. 15:23.................................Christ's
I Cor. 15:47.....................................Lord
I Cor. 16:22.............................Jesus Christ
I Cor. 16:23...................................Christ
2 Cor. 4:6......................................Jesus
2 Cor. 4:10......................................Lord
2 Cor. 4:11.....................................Jesus
2 Cor. 5:18.....................................Jesus
2 Cor. 10:7..................................Christ's
2 Cor. 11:31...................................Christ
Gal. 3:17......................................Christ
Gal. 4:7.......................................Christ
Gal. 6:15................................Christ Jesus
Gal. 6:17........................................Lord
Eph. 3:9.................................Jesus Christ
Eph. 3:14...........................Lord Jesus Christ
Phil. 4:13.....................................Christ
Col. 1:2............................Lord Jesus Christ
Col. 1:28.......................................Jesus
I Thess. 1:1........................Lord Jesus Christ
I Thess. 2:19..................................Christ
I Thess. 3:11..................................Christ
I Thess. 3:13..................................Christ
2 Thess. 1:8...................................Christ
2 Thess. 1:12..................................Christ
I Tim. 1:1.......................................Lord
I Tim. 2:7.....................................Christ
I Tim. 3:16.......................................God
I Tim. 5:21......................................Lord
2 Tim. 4:1.......................................Lord
2 Tim. 4:22..............................Jesus Christ
Titus 1:4........................................Lord
Philem. 6.......................................Jesus
Heb. 3:1.......................................Christ
Heb. 10:30.......................................Lord
I Pet. 3:15......................................*God
I Pet. 5:10.....................................Jesus
I Pet. 5:14.....................................Jesus
I John 1:7.....................................Christ
I John 4:3.....................................Christ
I John 5:7...................................the Word
I John 5:13................................Son of God
2 John 3.........................................Lord
2 John 9.......................................Christ
Rev. 1:8.................the beginning and the ending
Rev. 1:9...............................Christ (twice)
Rev. 1:11.............................Alpha and Omega
Rev. 1:11......................the first and the last
Rev. 1:13.................................*Son of man
Rev. 12:17.....................................Christ
Rev. 14:14................................*Son of man
Rev. 20:12........................................God
Rev. 22:21.....................................Christ
=============================================================================
ALSO OMITTED IN THE NIV

The NIV completely REMOVES the following 17 verses!
Matthew 17:21, 18:11, 23:14
Mark 7:16, 9:44, and 9:46, 11:26, 15:28, Luke 17:36, 23:17
John 5:4 Acts 8:37, 15:34, 24:7, 28:28
Romans 16:24
1 John 5:7!
The NIV REMOVES 64,576 words! ($$$)
Don't look for the "mercyseat" in the NIV - GONE!
Don't look for "Jehovah" in the NIV - GONE!
Don't look for the "Godhead" in the NIV - GONE!
The NIV removes scriptural "terms" like remission, regeneration, impute, propitiation, new testament
and many others!
Despite God's clear warnings about "taking away" from His words - the NIV removes 64,576 words!
That equals REMOVING the books of Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi, Colossians, I
Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, I Peter, II
Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude and more - COMBINED!!! The equivalence of ripping out OVER 30 BOOKS of the Bible!
In case you think it's insignificant words like "thee" and "thou"? The NIV removes major portions of at least 147 verses!
Here's a small (very small) sampling of words, verses removed in the NIV! ($$$)
Matt. 6:13, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Matt. 15:8, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth"
Matt. 19:9, "and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."
Matt. 20:7, "and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."
Matt. 20:16, "for many be called, but few chosen."
Matt. 20:22, "and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with"
Matt. 25:13, "wherein the Son of Man cometh."
Matt. 27:35, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet They parted my garments among them and upon my vesture did they cast lots"
Mark 6:11, "Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment, than for that city."
Mark 10:21, "take up the cross."
Mark 11:26 "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Luke 1:28, "blessed art thou among women"
Luke 4:4, "but by every word of God"
Luke 4:8, "get thee behind me Satan"
Luke 4:18, "he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted"
Luke 11:2-4, "Our ... which art in ... Thy will be done, as in heaven so in earth... but deliver us from evil"
John 1:27, "is preferred before me"
John 3:13, "which is in heaven"
John 3:15, "should not perish"
John 11:41, "from the place where the dead was laid"
John 16:16, "because I go to the Father"
Acts 10:6, "he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do"
Acts 15:18, "Known unto God are all his works"
Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me"
Acts 23:9, "let us not fight against God"
Rom. 8:1, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
Rom. 13:9, "Thou shalt not bear false witness"
I Cor. 6:20, "and in your spirit which are God's"
I Cor. 11:24; "Take eat... broken"
II Cor. 10:4, "but mighty through God"
Gal. 3:1, "that you should not obey the truth"
Eph. 5:30, "of his flesh, and of his bones"
Phil. 3:16, "let us mind the same thing"
I Tim. 6:5, "from such wthdraw thyself"
Heb. 7:21, "after the order of Melchisedec"
I Pet. 1:22, "through the Spirit"
I Pet. 4:14, "on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified"
I John 4:3, "Christ is come in the flesh"
I John 5:13, "and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God"
Rev. 1:11, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last"
Rev. 5:14, "him that liveth for ever and ever"
Rev. 14:5, "before the throne of God"
Rev. 21:24, "of them which are saved"

In Conclusion, earnest believers should be wary of relying solely on a Bible version that contains omissions of scriptures and words...be like the Bereans! If you could only have one Bible - the NASB, the ESV, and the KJV are the closest word for word translation, and a great modern equivalent of the KJV is the KJVER. (Sword Version) example here: https://www.amazon.com/KJVER-Sword-Study-Personal-Print-Softcover/dp/1629113905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483247494&sr=8-1&keywords=sword+kjver+bible

As far as just the New Testament and Psalms are concerned, for study purposes, the Aramaic Study Bible online is quite good too...out of print now, but a new version on the way...there are more and more people that seem to be currently using it to study with it...you can see it in action here at the biblehub.com ... http://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/1.htm