File Name: Modern Literal Version (2021 Update - OT & NT)
File Submitter: Bradley S. Cobb
File Submitted: 18 Feb 2014
File Category: Bibles
Author: MLV Translation Teame-Sword Version: 9.x - 10.x
Modern Literal Version
(2021 update)
4-12-2020 update
The Modern Literal Version (MLV) aims to be exactly what the title suggests: A modern-language translation of the New Testament which is as close to word-for-word as possible while still being understandable/readable. While some translations use several words to translate a single Greek word (many times in the same paragraph), the MLV has sought to only use one English word for each Greek word. This, of course, doesn't include when one Greek word clearly has different meanings in different contexts.
The MLV strives to be 'error-free' by being "Open Source" so anyone can submit any "Thus saith NOT the Greek". The MLV was not made for profit; this and the Open Source concept has keep it free from doctrinal biases and agendas with a far superior check and balances system. The MLV started like all other 'committee translations' and failed to obtain the accuracy proposed by 'leaps and bounds' and was revised to a more computer generated based translation with over 400 editors, 10 computer techs, 10,000+ emails of corrections, and possibly millions of proofreaders all who could have submitted a "Thus saith NOT the Greek" recommendation.
Quick Overview:
The “Modern Literal Version” uses the Majority Text (‘The New Testament in the Original Greek Byzantine Textform 2018 Compiled and Arranged by Maurice A. Robinson and William Pierpont’).
Two distinct and opposite techniques are used in translating the New Testament from the Greek. The “Modern Literal Version” is the first type, a ‘literal’ translation sometimes called ‘word for word’ translation. The second and most common in the past 30 years is to paraphrase the Greek into English (dynamic equivalence, free style, better than a word for word, or some other fancy wording), all of which are just lame excuses for sloppy translation principles. Any form of paraphrasing would make the opinions of the translators your ‘Word of God.’ They read like the newspaper and contain less wording than a ‘word for word’ translation. The goal of everyone who worked on the “Modern Literal Version” was to keep any form of commentary or paraphrase out of this translation as is humanly possible. Since there is no denomination or publishing company behind the MLV and it was never made for profit, the only uninspired traditions kept in the MLV are: punctuation and capitalization; chapter and verse numbers; and book order (very much to our distaste). How many other translations can claim that especially in book form?
Asterisks (*) are placed after certain words to alert the reader to various information from the original language. For example, when you see you*, this means that in Greek, this is plural. It is extremely important to read the non-bible pages found in the Dictionary module or from the PDF available on the website: www.ModernLiteralVersion.org or .com (shorter redirected mirrors: mlvbible.org, .com .net ) to fully understand the Modern Literal Version and its purpose.
If you, the reader, have some questions, corrections, or suggestions about the translation itself, please email the translation team at mlvbible@gmail.com with subject line MLV or gmail may put your email in SPAM (the reason we don't use the official email address provided by the ISP of the MLV website).
Originally release in e-Sword format in fall of 2011 with over 4000 downloads (add to current download for stats). In Oct. 2013 the "Modern Literal Version" was made available in printed format. The official Modern Literal Version website under 'bulk pricing' gives rough pricing in bulk orders of 18 per case and links to the Amazon listings in paperback, 8.5” x 11” and 7" x 10" versions. Congregations which use the MLV as their primary translation grow, you should consider the same for yours.
The Dictionary Module has been updated to current 2020 Official Update. The Dictionary contains: English concordance with links to each underlying Greek word, Greek Lexicon with Greek Concordance. Updated RMAC to reflex all variations found in the N.T. Voice Tense Mood dictionary updated and included with links for various Synonyms in the Lexicon or this section.
Contents of this module:
The 2019 Update of the Modern Literal Version - both Old and New Testaments.
Dictionary File contains: English Concordance, words linked to underlying Greek (Ctrl + Left Mouse Click) to Greek Lexicon with corrected etymology, supplement section to show additional information, other related Greek words from base word, pronunciation, part of speech, and then a Greek Concordance based off of "The New Testament in the Original Greek, Byzantine Textform 2018, Compiled and Arranged by Maurice A. Robinson and William Pierpont." What words the KJV used for the same Greek word. If you wish to see accuracy of the MLV please check out G1096 & G2596 to compare the worse verb and the worse preposition used in God's Greek Bible when it comes to accuracy and uniformity in English to the old KJV or others should you have a source to use. RMAC and/or the TVM codes have been currently redone to reflect all know e-Sword Greek interlinears. Links also to synonyms sections are in the MLVDC+G module. (Currently 4200 pages according to MS Word.)
Copyright Notice:
The Modern Literal Version is copyright 1999, 2017, G. Allen Walker, co-editor of the MLV.
Permission is granted to use the MLV in any articles, commentaries, or other books, so long as the MLV does not comprise 80% of the total work. However, as a courtesy, we would appreciate being informed of it ahead of time if it will be in a published work (book/commentary). An attempt to create the same functionality of the e-Sword program is also available at www.modernliteralversion.org website. The only official version of the MLV for e-Sword is available at BibleSupport.com. Please report if you discover it elsewhere.
The MLV is royalty free to foreigners to print locally in their own country in their own print shops as long as printed without alterations or changes in A4 & 7"x10" versions, request from mlvbible@gmail.com.
To God is the glory, forevermore.
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