1-3. (a) Why are God’s thoughts and language superior to those of humans? (b) What will we learn in this article?

JEHOVAH wanted to share life and happiness with others, so he created angels and later created humans. (Psalm 36:9; 1 Timothy 1:11) Jehovah first created the one the apostle John calls “the Word.” (John 1:1; Revelation 3:14) Jehovah communicated with that one, Jesus, and expressed his thoughts and feelings to him. (John 1:14, 17; Colossians 1:15) The apostle Paul says that the angels also communicate and have a language, one that is very different from human language.​—1 Corinthians 13:1.

² Jehovah knows everything about the billions of angels and humans he created. He is able to listen to the prayers of millions of people at the same time, and he understands their prayers no matter what language they are spoken in. While he is listening to all those prayers, Jehovah is also communicating with the angels and directing them. In order to do all of that, Jehovah’s thoughts and language must be superior to the thoughts and language of humans. (Read Isaiah 55:8, 9.) So when he communicates with humans, he simplifies his message so that we can understand it.

³ In this article, we will learn how Jehovah communicates with humans in a clear way. We will also see how he changes the way he communicates depending on the circumstances.

GOD COMMUNICATES WITH HUMANS

4. (a) What language did Jehovah use to communicate with Moses, Samuel, and David? (b) What does the Bible contain?

⁴ When he communicated with the first man, Adam, in the garden of Eden, Jehovah probably used an ancient form of the Hebrew language. Later, Jehovah communicated with men such as Moses, Samuel, and David. Although they wrote down their own words in Hebrew and in their own style of writing, they were actually writing down God’s thoughts. They wrote down direct statements from Jehovah and also wrote about the history of God’s relationship with his people. For example, the Bible records their faith and love for God and also records their mistakes and unfaithfulness. All this information was written for our benefit.​—Romans 15:4.

5. Was Hebrew the only language God used to communicate with humans? Explain.

⁵ Jehovah did not always communicate with humans in Hebrew. By the time the Israelites were freed from Babylon, some of them spoke Aramaic in their daily lives. Perhaps that is why Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezra wrote parts of the Bible in Aramaic.​—See the footnotes to Ezra 4:8; 7:12; Jeremiah 10:11; and Daniel 2:4.

6. Why were the Hebrew Scriptures translated into Greek?

⁶ Alexander the Great later conquered much of the world, and common, or Koine, Greek became the main language in many countries. Many Jews began to speak Greek, and eventually the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek. This translation is called the Septuagint. It was the first translation of the Bible and one of the most important. Experts believe that the Septuagint was completed by 72 translators.a (See footnote.) Some translated from the Hebrew Scriptures word for word, while others did not. Still, Greek-speaking Jews and Christians believed that the Septuagint was God’s Word.

7. What language did Jesus use to teach his disciples?

⁷ When Jesus was on earth, he probably spoke Hebrew. (John 19:20; 20:16; Acts 26:14) He may also have used some Aramaic expressions that were common at that time. But he also knew the ancient Hebrew language spoken by Moses and the prophets, whose writings were read at the synagogues each week. (Luke 4:17-19; 24:44, 45; Acts 15:21) And although Greek and Latin were spoken in Jesus’ time, the Bible does not say whether Jesus also spoke those languages.

8, 9. Why did many Christians speak Greek, and what does this teach us about Jehovah?

⁸ The first followers of Jesus spoke Hebrew, but after his death, his disciples spoke other languages. (Read Acts 6:1.) As the good news spread, many Christians spoke Greek rather than Hebrew. Because Greek was the common language, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were distributed in Greek.b (See footnote.) Also, the letters of the apostle Paul and other Bible books were written in Greek.

⁹ It is interesting that when writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures, they often used the Septuagint. At times, those quotes were slightly different from the original Hebrew wording. So the work of imperfect translators became part of the Bible we have today. This teaches us that Jehovah does not view one language or culture as better than another.​—Read Acts 10:34.

10. What have we learned from the way Jehovah communicates with humans?

¹⁰ We have learned that Jehovah communicates with humans according to the circumstances. He does not expect us to speak a specific language in order to get to know him or his purposes. (Read Zechariah 8:23; Revelation 7:9, 10.) We have also learned that Jehovah inspired the Bible writers, but he allowed them to write his thoughts in their own words.

GOD PRESERVES HIS MESSAGE

11. Why is the fact that humans use many different languages not a problem for Jehovah?

¹¹ Humans use many different languages, but this is not a problem for Jehovah. How do we know? The Bible contains only a few of Jesus’ words in the original language he used. (Matthew 27:46; Mark 5:41; 7:34; 14:36) But Jehovah made sure that Jesus’ message was written and translated into Greek and, in time, into other languages. Also, because God’s Word was copied many times by Jews and Christians, God’s message was preserved. These copies were then translated into many more languages. About 400 years after Christ, John Chrysostom said that Jesus’ teachings had been translated into the languages of the Syrians, Egyptians, Indians, Persians, Ethiopians, and many other peoples.

12. How has the Bible been attacked?

¹² Throughout history, there have been many attacks against the Bible and those who translated and distributed it. About 300 years after Jesus was born, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered that all copies of the Bible be destroyed. About 1,200 years later, William Tyndale started translating the Bible into English. He said that if God allowed him to live long enough, he would make sure that even a farm boy would know the Bible better than a priest. Because of persecution, Tyndale had to flee from England to Europe in order to translate and print his Bible. Even though the clergy tried to burn all the copies they could find, Tyndale’s translation was distributed to many people. Eventually, Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake. But his translation survived attacks from the clergy, and it was used to prepare a Bible translation called the King James Version.​—Read 2 Timothy 2:9.

13. What has the study of old Bible manuscripts shown?

¹³ It is true that among some of the oldest copies of the Bible, there are small mistakes and differences. However, Bible experts carefully studied thousands of manuscripts, parts of manuscripts, and old translations of the Bible. After comparing them, they found that there are only a few verses that have small differences, and these are only minor. But the Bible’s message has not changed. Studies like these convince sincere Bible students that what they have today is Jehovah’s inspired Word.​—Isaiah 40:8.c (See footnote.)

14. How available is the Bible today?

¹⁴ Despite the many attacks against the Bible, it has been translated into over 2,800 languages. That is more than any other book available today. Even though many people do not have faith in God, his Word continues to be the most widely distributed book in history. While some translations of the Bible are not so easy to read or are not very accurate, almost all of them give the simple message of hope and everlasting life.

A NEW BIBLE TRANSLATION WAS NEEDED

15. (a) How has our Bible literature changed since 1919? (b) Why is our literature first written in English?

¹⁵ In 1919, a small group of Bible students was appointed as “the faithful and discreet slave.” At that time, the faithful slave communicated with God’s people mostly in English. (Matthew 24:45) But today, Bible literature is provided in over 700 languages. Like Greek in the past, English is now common in business and education and is widely known. So our literature is written first in English and then translated into other languages.

16, 17. (a) What did God’s people need? (b) How was that need cared for? (c) What was Brother Knorr’s desire?

¹⁶ All our literature is based on the Bible. At first, God’s people used the King James Version, completed in 1611. However, its language was old and difficult to understand. God’s name was used only a few times, even though very old manuscripts used it thousands of times. That version also had translation errors and extra verses that were not found in the oldest manuscripts. Other English Bible translations had similar problems.

¹⁷ Clearly, God’s people needed a Bible translation that was accurate and easy to understand. So the New World Bible Translation Committee was formed, and the brothers on this committee released portions of the Bible from 1950 to 1960. The first of six volumes was released at a convention on August 2, 1950. At that convention, Brother Knorr said that God’s people needed a modern Bible translation that was accurate and easy to understand and one that would help them learn the truth more clearly. They needed a translation that was just as simple to read and understand as the original writings of Christ’s disciples. Brother Knorr’s desire was that the New World Translation would help millions of people come to know Jehovah.

18. What has helped Bible translation?

¹⁸ By 1963, Brother Knorr’s desire became a reality. The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. In 1989, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses formed a new department at world headquarters to help Bible translators. Then in 2005, permission was given to translate the Bible into languages in which The Watchtower was already being translated. As a result, the New World Translation is now available, in whole or in part, in more than 130 languages.

19. What important event happened in 2013, and what will we learn in the next article?

¹⁹ The English language has changed since the first edition of the New World Translation was released, so it became necessary to update its wording. On the weekend of October 5 and 6, 2013, an audience of 1,413,676 in 31 countries attended or was tied in to the 129th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. A member of the Governing Body announced the release of a revised New World Translation in English. The audience was thrilled, and many cried when they got their own copy of this new translation. As the speakers read verses from the revision, it was clear to all that the revised edition was easier to read and understand. In the next article, we will learn more about this revision, as well as how it is being translated into other languages.

1. (a) What assignment did God give to Adam? (b) Since then, how have God’s people used the gift of language?

JEHOVAH GOD gave humans the gift of language. In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam the assignment to name all the animals. Adam gave each animal a meaningful name. (Genesis 2:19, 20) Since then, God’s people have used the gift of language to praise Jehovah and tell others about him. In recent times, God’s people have used this gift to translate the Bible so that more people can learn about Jehovah.

2. (a) What principles did the members of the New World Bible Translation Committee follow in their work? (b) What will we learn in this article?

² There are thousands of Bible translations, but some are more accurate than others. To translate the Bible accurately, the New World Bible Translation Committee decided to follow three basic principles: (1) Honor God’s name and use it in his Word as many times as the original. (Read Matthew 6:9.) (2) Translate the original message word for word where possible. Where not possible, translate the correct meaning. (3) Use language that is easy to read and understand.a (See footnote.) (Read Nehemiah 8:8, 12.) These three principles have been followed by translators of the New World Translation in more than 130 different languages. In this article, we will learn how these principles apply to the 2013 revision of the New World Translation and to its translation into other languages as well.

A BIBLE THAT HONORS GOD’S NAME

3, 4. (a) Where do we find the Tetragrammaton? (b) What have many Bible translations done with God’s name?

³ God’s name is represented by four Hebrew letters called the Tetragrammaton. We can find the Tetragrammaton in many old Hebrew manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We can also find it in some copies of the Greek Septuagint. These copies were made as early as 200 years before Christ and as late as 100 years after Christ. Many people are impressed when they see how often God’s name appears in old manuscripts.

⁴ Clearly, God’s name should be in the Bible. Still, many translations do not use God’s name. For example, just two years after the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was released, a revision of the American Standard Version was released. The 1901 edition used God’s name, but the 1952 revision did not. Why? Its translators felt that it was “entirely inappropriate” to use God’s name. Many translations, both in English and in other languages, have done the same.

5. Why is it important to use God’s name in the Bible?

⁵ Does it really matter whether translators include God’s name or not? Yes! Jehovah, the Author of the Bible, wants people to know his name. A good translator should know what an author wants, and that should affect his translation decisions. Many scriptures show that God’s name is important and that it must be honored. (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 83:18; 148:13; Isaiah 42:8; 43:10; John 17:6, 26; Acts 15:14) And Jehovah inspired Bible writers to use his name thousands of times in ancient manuscripts. (Read Ezekiel 38:23.) So when translators omit God’s name, they do not respect Jehovah.

6. Why was God’s name added in six places in the revised New World Translation?

⁶ Today, there is even more proof that we should use Jehovah’s name. The 2013 revision of the New World Translation uses God’s name 7,216 times. That is six more than the previous edition. Five of these were added because God’s name was found in the recently published Dead Sea Scrolls.b (See footnote.) These five are found at 1 Samuel 2:25; 6:3; 10:26; 23:14, 16. The sixth, at Judges 19:18, was added as a result of further study of reliable old Bible manuscripts.

7, 8. What is the meaning of the name Jehovah?

⁷ True Christians feel that it is important to understand the full meaning of God’s name. His name means “He Causes to Become.”c (See footnote.) In the past, our publications explained the meaning of God’s name using Exodus 3:14, which says: “I Will Become What I Choose to Become.” The 1984 revision explained that Jehovah causes himself to become whatever he chooses to be in order to fulfill his promises.d (See footnote.) However, the 2013 revision explains: “While the name Jehovah may include this idea, it is not limited to what he himself chooses to become. It also includes what he causes to happen with regard to his creation and the accomplishment of his purpose.”

⁸ Jehovah causes his creation to become whatever he chooses. For example, God caused Noah to become the builder of the ark, Bezalel to become an expert craftsman, Gideon to be a great warrior, and Paul to be a missionary. God’s name has real meaning for his people, and this is why the New World Bible Translation Committee included God’s name in this translation.

9. Why has translation of the Bible into other languages been given priority?

⁹ More and more Bible translations leave out God’s personal name. Instead, they use the title “Lord” or the name of a local god. This is one of the main reasons why the Governing Body feels that it is very important that people of all languages have a Bible that honors God’s name. (Read Malachi 3:16.) So far, Jehovah’s name is being honored in editions of the New World Translation in more than 130 languages.

A CLEAR AND ACCURATE TRANSLATION

10, 11. What have been some difficulties while translating the New World Translation into other languages?

¹⁰ There have been difficulties while translating the English New World Translation into other languages. For example, the English edition used the Hebrew word “Sheol” at Ecclesiastes 9:10 and in other verses. This expression was common in other English Bibles as well. However, this word could not be used in many languages because most readers of these languages did not know the Hebrew word “Sheol.”. It was not in their dictionaries, and some even thought that it was the name of a location. For these reasons, translators were given approval to translate the Hebrew word “Sheol” and the Greek word “Hades” as “the Grave.” This is an accurate translation and makes the text clearer.

¹¹ The Hebrew and Greek words for “soul” were also difficult to translate into some languages. In these languages, the word for “soul” usually refers to a ghost or to something that leaves the body at death. To avoid this misunderstanding, translators were given approval to translate the word “soul” according to the context of the word. An explanation of the various meanings of the word “soul” can be found in the appendix of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures​—With References. Helpful information about Hebrew and Greek words is placed in footnotes of the revised edition so that the Bible text is easy to read and understand.

12. What are some other changes that were made in the 2013 revision? (See also the article “The 2013 Revision of the New World Translation” found in the standard edition of this issue.)

¹² Questions from translators revealed other possible misunderstandings of the Bible text. So in September 2007, the Governing Body gave approval to revise the English edition. The committee studied thousands of questions from Bible translators during the revision. English expressions that were old were replaced with modern ones, which made the text easier to read and understand while maintaining its accuracy. Translation that had already recently been done in other languages also helped to improve the English text.​—Proverbs 27:17.

GREAT APPRECIATION

13. How do many feel about the 2013 revision?

¹³ How do many feel about the revised English New World Translation? Thousands of letters of appreciation from our brothers and sisters have been received at the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Brooklyn, New York. Many feel like one sister who wrote: “The Bible is a treasure chest brimming over with valuable jewels. To read Jehovah’s words clearly by using the 2013 revision can be compared to examining each jewel, admiring its many facets, clarity, color, and beauty. The Scriptures conveyed in simple language have helped me to become better acquainted with Jehovah, who is like a father with his arms around me while he reads his soothing words to me.”

14, 15. How do people feel about the New World Translation in other languages?

¹⁴ People who speak languages other than English are also thankful for the New World Translation. An elderly man from Sofia, Bulgaria, said about the Bulgarian edition: “I have read the Bible for many years, but I have never read a translation that is easier to understand and that goes right to the heart.” Likewise, an Albanian sister wrote: “How beautiful God’s Word sounds in Albanian! What a privilege to have Jehovah speak to us in our own language!”

¹⁵ In many countries, Bibles are expensive or very difficult to find. To receive a Bible is a great blessing! A report from Rwanda said: “For a long time, many people with whom the brothers were studying had not progressed because they had no Bibles. They could not afford to purchase the local church edition. And they often could not clearly understand the meaning of certain verses, which hindered their progress.” When the New World Translation became available in their local language, a Rwandan family with four teenagers said: “We really thank Jehovah and the faithful and discreet slave for giving us this Bible. We are very poor and had no money to purchase Bibles for every member of the family. But now each of us has his own Bible. To show our gratitude to Jehovah, we read the Bible as a family every day.”

16, 17. (a) What does Jehovah want for his people? (b) What should we be determined to do?

¹⁶ The revised New World Translation will be made available in more languages in the future. Satan tries to stop this work, but we know that Jehovah wants all his people to listen as he speaks to them in clear, understandable language. (Read Isaiah 30:21.) Soon, “the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.”​—Isaiah 11:9.

¹⁷ May we be determined to use every gift from Jehovah, including this translation that honors his name. Let him speak with you every day through his Word. He is able to listen attentively to all our prayers. This communication will help us to come to know Jehovah ever more, and our love for him will keep growing.​—John 17:3.

JEHOVAH is a generous God. (James 1:17) We can see his generosity in everything he created. He filled the universe with stars, and he covered the earth with beautiful plants.​—Psalm 65:12, 13; 147:7, 8; 148:3, 4.

The writer of Psalm 104 was very thankful for all that Jehovah had created, so he wrote a song to praise him. When you read that psalm, do you feel as thankful as the psalmist was? He said: “I will sing to Jehovah throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 104:33) Do you want to do the same?

THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF GENEROSITY

Jehovah wants us to imitate his generosity. And he gives us good reasons to be generous. He inspired the apostle Paul to write: “Instruct those who are rich in the present system of things not to be arrogant, and to place their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all the things we enjoy. Tell them to work at good, to be rich in fine works, to be generous, ready to share, safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, so that they may get a firm hold on the real life.”​—1 Timothy 6:17-19.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul explained what our motive should be when we give to others. He said: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) Whom do we help when we are generous? Paul said that we help others by giving them what they need, but we also help ourselves because Jehovah will bless us.​—2 Corinthians 9:11-14.

Paul then referred to the greatest proof of God’s generosity when he said: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable free gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Jehovah’s “free gift” includes all the good things that he gives us through Jesus Christ. Words cannot describe how valuable this gift is.

How can we show that we are thankful for all that Jehovah and Jesus have done and will do for us? One way is by being generous when we give of our time, energy, and material things to worship Jehovah and help others learn about him. We can do this whether we have a lot or very little.​—1 Chronicles 22:14; 29:3-5; Luke 21:1-4.

1, 2. Why does the Bible compare our ability to speak to fire?

IN 1871, a fire started in the forests of Wisconsin, in the United States. It quickly spread and completely burned about two billion trees. Over 1,200 people were killed. In fact, more were killed in that fire than in any other fire in the United States. It seems that tiny sparks from trains passing by the forest started the huge fire. This reminds us of a Bible verse: “See how small a fire it takes to set a great forest ablaze!” (James 3:5) Why did the Bible writer James say this?

² He explains: “The tongue is also a fire.” (James 3:6) “The tongue” means our ability to speak. And just like a fire, what we say can cause a lot of damage. Our words can have a powerful effect on others. The Bible even tells us that what we say can bring life or death to them. (Proverbs 18:21) But does that mean we must never say anything just because we might say something wrong? Of course not. We would not stop using fire just because we might get burned. Instead, we are careful about the way we use it. For example, we can use fire to cook our food, to warm ourselves, and to have light. In the same way, if we are careful about the way we speak, we can use this ability to honor Jehovah and to benefit others.​—Psalm 19:14.

3. What three things will help us to encourage others when we speak?

³ Jehovah gave us the ability to tell others what we think and feel, either by talking or by signing with our hands. So how can we use this wonderful gift to encourage others? (Read James 3:9, 10.) We need to know when to speak, what to say, and how to say it.

WHEN SHOULD WE SPEAK?

4. When should we be silent?

⁴ Sometimes it is good not to speak. The Bible says that there is “a time to be silent.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) For example, we keep quiet while others are talking to show we respect them. (Job 6:24) Also, we do not talk about things that are private and that other people should not know. (Proverbs 20:19) And when someone makes us angry, we will be wise if we try to stay calm and say nothing.​—Psalm 4:4.

5. How can we show Jehovah that we are grateful to him for giving us the ability to speak?

⁵ But there are also times when it is good to say something. (Ecclesiastes 3:7) There is a time to praise Jehovah, to encourage others, to express how we feel, and to tell others what we need. (Psalm 51:15) And if we use our ability to speak in this way, we show Jehovah that we are grateful to him for giving us this gift. After all, when a friend gives us a beautiful gift, we want to use it in the best way possible.

6. Why is it important to choose the right time to speak?

⁶ Why is it important to choose the right time to speak? Proverbs 25:11 says: “Like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time.” Golden apples are beautiful, but they would be even more beautiful when they are in front of a silver background. In a similar way, we might have something good to say to someone. But if we choose the right time to speak, we can help that person even more. How can we do this?

7, 8. How did our brothers in Japan imitate Jesus’ example?

⁷ If we speak at the wrong time, people may not understand or accept what we say. (Read Proverbs 15:23.) For example, in March 2011 an earthquake and tsunami destroyed many cities in eastern Japan. More than 15,000 people died. Although many of Jehovah’s Witnesses had lost family and friends, they wanted to use the Bible to help others who were in the same situation. But they knew that many of those people were Buddhists and knew little about the Bible. So instead of telling them at that time about the resurrection, the brothers comforted them and explained why such terrible things happen to good people.

⁸ Those brothers imitated Jesus. He knew when to keep quiet, but he also knew when to speak. (John 18:33-37; 19:8-11) And he waited for the right time to teach his disciples certain things. (John 16:12) The brothers in Japan waited for the right time to tell people about the resurrection. Two and a half years after the tsunami, they offered people the tract Can the Dead Really Live Again? Many took the tract and were comforted by what they read. We too should think about the culture and beliefs of people in our territory so that we can find the right time to speak to them.

9. In what other situations should we wait for the right time to speak?

⁹ In what other situations should we wait for the right time to speak? Perhaps someone says something that offends us. Instead of replying immediately and saying something foolish, we would be wise to stop and think: ‘Did he mean to be unkind? Do I really need to speak to him about what he said?’ It might be best not to say anything. But if there is a good reason to talk to him, we should wait until we calm down. (Read Proverbs 15:28.) Or it could be that we want to encourage our family members who are not Witnesses to get to know Jehovah. We must be patient, think carefully about what we are going to say, and find a time when they may be willing to listen.

WHAT SHOULD WE SAY?

10. (a) Why should we carefully choose what we say? (b) What way of talking must we avoid?

¹⁰ What we say can make others feel better or can make them feel worse. (Read Proverbs 12:18.) Many people in Satan’s world use “cruel words” that are like “arrows” or “a sword” because they want to hurt and upset others. (Psalm 64:3) Many learn to speak this way from the movies and television shows they watch. But Christians would not say anything that is harsh and unkind, not even in a humorous way. Humor is good and can make what we say more interesting. But we should never use cruel sarcasm, that is, say something that would embarrass or even insult someone just to make others laugh. The Bible commands Christians not to use “abusive speech.” It also says: “Let a rotten word not come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up as the need may be, to impart what is beneficial to the hearers.”​—Ephesians 4:29, 31.

11. What can help us choose the right words?

¹¹ Jesus taught that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) This means that the things we say can show how we really feel. So if we love people and truly care about them, we will likely choose the right words to say to them. The things we say will be positive and encouraging.

12. What else can help us to choose the right words?

¹² It takes effort to find the right words to say. Even though King Solomon was wise, he “pondered and made a thorough search” so that what he wrote would be correct and pleasant to read. (Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10) What can help us to know what to say? We can look in the Bible and our publications to find new ways to express ourselves. We can learn the meaning of expressions we do not understand. We can also study the example of Jesus to learn how to speak in a way that will help others. He knew exactly what to say because Jehovah taught him “how to answer the tired one with the right word.” (Isaiah 50:4) It is also important to think about how our words will affect others. (James 1:19) We could ask ourselves: ‘If I say this, will the person understand what I am trying to tell him? How will he feel?’

13. Why should we speak in a way that is easy to understand?

¹³ Trumpet sounds were used in Israel to give signals. One of the sounds meant that the people should meet together. A different sound meant that the soldiers should attack. Just imagine what would have happened to the army if the trumpet sound was not clear! The Bible compares the clear sound of the trumpet to words that are easy to understand. If we do not explain things clearly, people may be confused or may believe something that is not true. Although we want to express ourselves clearly, we should be careful that what we say is not rude or disrespectful.​—Read 1 Corinthians 14:8, 9.

14. What example shows that Jesus spoke in a way that was easy to understand?

¹⁴ Matthew chapters 5 to 7 are an excellent example of how Jesus chose words that were easy to understand. In the talk he gave, he did not try to impress people by using complicated or unnecessary words. And he did not say things that would hurt others. Jesus taught very important things that had deep meaning, but what he said was easy to understand. For example, Jesus wanted to assure his disciples that they did not need to worry about what they would eat each day. So he explained that Jehovah always feeds the birds. Then, he asked them: “Are you not worth more than they are?” (Matthew 6:26) With those simple words, Jesus helped them to understand an important lesson and to feel encouraged.

HOW SHOULD WE TALK TO OTHERS?

15. Why must we speak in a kind way?

¹⁵ How we talk to others can be as important as what we say. People enjoyed listening to Jesus because he spoke in a “gracious,” or kind, way. (Luke 4:22) When we speak in a kind way, people are more likely to enjoy listening to us and to accept what we say. (Proverbs 25:15) We will be able to speak to others in a kind way if we respect them and care about their feelings. That is what Jesus did. For example, when he saw a crowd making a lot of effort to listen to him, he was very happy to spend time with them and teach them. (Mark 6:34) Even when people insulted him, Jesus did not insult them back.​—1 Peter 2:23.

16, 17. (a) When we are talking to our family and friends, how can we imitate Jesus? (See opening picture.) (b) How did one mother do a lot of good by speaking in a kind way?

¹⁶ Although we love our family and friends, we might say unkind things to them because we know them very well. We might think that we do not need to be careful about how we talk to them. But Jesus was never unkind when he spoke to his friends. When some of them argued about who was greater, he corrected them in a kind way and used an example of a young child to help them change their thinking. (Mark 9:33-37) Elders can imitate Jesus’ example by counseling others in a gentle way.​—Galatians 6:1.

¹⁷ Even when someone says something that upsets us, we can do a lot of good by speaking in a kind way. (Proverbs 15:1) For example, the teenage son of a single mother was doing bad things while pretending to serve Jehovah. A sister in the congregation felt sorry for the mother and told her: “It’s too bad you have failed at child training.” The mother stopped to think and then said: “It’s true that things are not going well right now, but his training is a work in progress. Talk to me after Armageddon; then we will know for sure.” Because the mother stayed calm and was kind to the sister, they continued to be friends. Also, the son heard what his mother had said and realized that she still believed he could change. So he stopped going out with bad friends, got baptized, and later served at Bethel. Whether we are talking to our brothers, our family, or people we do not know, our words should always “be gracious, seasoned with salt.”​—Colossians 4:6.

18. How can we follow Jesus’ example in the way we speak?

¹⁸ The ability to tell others what we think and feel is truly a wonderful gift from Jehovah. If we follow Jesus’ example, we will choose the right time to speak, we will be careful about what we say, and we will always try to be kind. So let us use our words to encourage others and to make Jehovah happy.

1, 2. What did God do in Bible times, and what might some wonder today when they are sick?

IF YOU have ever been seriously ill, you may have asked, ‘Will I get better?’ Or perhaps a family member or a friend is sick and you wonder if he or she will get well again. It is normal to want good health for yourself and for the people you love. In the Bible, we read about some who were not well and who wanted to know if they would get better. For example, King Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, wondered if he would recover from an injury. And later, King Ben-hadad of Syria was sick and asked if he would get better.​—2 Kings 1:2; 8:7, 8.

² The Bible also tells us that in the past, Jehovah sometimes healed people by means of a miracle and even used his prophets to resurrect some who had died. (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:17-20, 32-35) Today, some people who are sick might wonder if God will also do something to help them get better.

3-5. What can Jehovah and Jesus do, and what questions will we discuss?

³ Jehovah has the power to affect people’s health. He punished some with sickness, such as the Pharaoh in Abraham’s time and later Moses’ sister, Miriam. (Genesis 12:17; Numbers 12:9, 10; 2 Samuel 24:15) And he punished the Israelites with “sickness or plague” when they were unfaithful to him. (Deuteronomy 28:58-61) At other times, Jehovah protected his people from getting sick. (Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:15) He even healed some of them. For example, he cured Job when he was very sick and wanted to die.​—Job 2:7; 3:11-13; 42:10, 16.

⁴ We are sure that Jehovah has the power to heal those who are sick. Jesus too can heal the sick. When he was on earth, he cured those who had diseases such as leprosy or epilepsy. He healed blind people and those who were paralyzed. (Read Matthew 4:23, 24; John 9:1-7) Those miracles help us look forward to the wonderful things Jesus will do in the new world. At that time, “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”​—Isaiah 33:24.

⁵ But if we get seriously sick, can we expect Jehovah or Jesus to heal us by means of a miracle now? And what should we think about when choosing a treatment?

RELY ON JEHOVAH WHEN YOU ARE SICK

6. What does the Bible say about the miracles that Christians in the first century performed?

⁶ In the first century, Jehovah anointed Christians with his holy spirit and gave some of them the ability to perform miracles. (Acts 3:2-7; 9:36-42) For example, they could heal people and speak in different languages. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) But later those miracles ended, just as the Bible said they would. (1 Corinthians 13:8) So today we cannot expect a miracle from God to heal us or our loved ones.

7. How can Psalm 41:3 encourage us?

⁷ But if you are sick, Jehovah will comfort and support you, as he did his servants in the past. King David wrote: “Happy is anyone who shows consideration to the lowly one; Jehovah will rescue him in the day of calamity. Jehovah will guard him and keep him alive.” (Psalm 41:1, 2) Of course, David did not mean that a good person living at that time who showed consideration for a lowly one would never die. So how would Jehovah help that good person? David explained: “Jehovah will sustain him on his sickbed; during his sickness you will completely change his bed.” (Psalm 41:3) Jehovah knows exactly what his servants are suffering, and he does not forget them. He can give them courage and wisdom. Jehovah has also made the human body in such a way that it can heal itself.

8. According to Psalm 41:4, what did David ask Jehovah to do for him when he was seriously sick?

⁸ In Psalm 41, David also tells us about the time when he was seriously sick and felt weak and anxious. It seems that at that time, his son Absalom was trying to become king instead of him. David was so ill that he could not stop Absalom. He knew that his family problems resulted from his sin with Bath-sheba. (2 Samuel 12:7-14) So, what did he do? He prayed: “O Jehovah, show me favor. Heal me, for I have sinned against you.” (Psalm 41:4) David knew that Jehovah had forgiven his sin, and he relied on God for help during his sickness. But was David expecting a miracle from Jehovah?

9. (a) What did Jehovah do for King Hezekiah? (b) What did David expect from Jehovah?

⁹ It is true that sometimes God chose to heal people. For example, when King Hezekiah was dying, Jehovah healed him. Hezekiah lived for 15 more years. (2 Kings 20:1-6) But David did not expect a miracle. Instead, he was expecting God to help him in the same way that God would help “anyone who shows consideration to the lowly one.” David had a good relationship with Jehovah, so he could ask Jehovah to comfort him and take care of him during his sickness. He also asked that his body would heal and he would get better. We can ask Jehovah to help us in the same way.​—Psalm 103:3.

10. What happened to Trophimus and Epaphroditus, and what does that teach us?

¹⁰ In the first century, not all Christians were healed by miracles even though the apostle Paul and others could heal the sick. (Read Acts 14:8-10.) The apostle Paul healed the father of Publius who was sick with a fever and a serious infection. Paul “prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.” (Acts 28:8) But Paul did not heal everyone he knew. One of his friends, Trophimus, traveled with Paul on a missionary journey. (Acts 20:3-5, 22; 21:29) When Trophimus got sick, Paul did not heal him. So Trophimus had to stop traveling with Paul and stay in Miletus to get better. (2 Timothy 4:20) Another one of Paul’s friends, Epaphroditus, got sick and nearly died. But the Bible does not say that Paul healed him.​—Philippians 2:25-27, 30.

WHAT ADVICE SHOULD YOU ACCEPT?

11, 12. What do we know about Luke, and how might he have helped Paul?

¹¹ Luke was a doctor, and he traveled with Paul. (Acts 16:10-12; 20:5, 6; Colossians 4:14) He likely helped Paul and others when they got sick on their missionary journeys. (Galatians 4:13) Just as Jesus said, “those who are ill” need a doctor.​—Luke 5:31.

¹² Luke was not just someone who liked to give advice about health. He was trained to be a doctor. The Bible does not say where or when he got his training. But it does say that Paul sent greetings from Luke to the Colossians. So it is possible that Luke was trained in a medical school in Laodicea, a city near Colossae. Also, when Luke wrote his Gospel and the book of Acts, he used specific medical words. Because he was a doctor, he included many stories of occasions when Jesus healed people.

13. What must we remember before giving or accepting advice about health?

¹³ Today, none of our brothers can perform miracles and heal us. But because they want to help us, some might give us advice even when we do not ask for it. Of course, some suggestions are harmless. For example, Paul suggested that Timothy drink some wine. Timothy had stomach problems, possibly because he drank polluted water.a (See footnote.) (Read 1 Timothy 5:23.) But we need to be careful. A brother might try to convince us to take a certain kind of medicine or herb or to eat or avoid certain foods. He might tell us that it helped someone in his family who had a similar problem. But this does not mean that it will help us too. We must remember that even if many people use a medicine or a treatment, it may still cause a lot of harm.​—Read Proverbs 27:12.

USE GOOD SENSE

14, 15. (a) What kind of people should we be careful of? (b) What can we learn from Proverbs 14:15?

¹⁴ We all want to be healthy so that we can enjoy life and work hard for Jehovah. But we are imperfect, so we cannot avoid all sickness. When we get sick, there may be a variety of treatments, and we have the right to decide which to accept. Unfortunately, some people and companies say that they have found a treatment that will cure our illness. They do that because they want to make a lot of money. They might say that many people used that treatment and got better. And if we are sick, we might be willing to try anything that could help us feel better and live longer. But we must not forget the advice in God’s Word: “The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step.”​—Proverbs 14:15.

¹⁵ If we are shrewd, or wise, we will be careful about what we believe especially if the person giving us advice has not had proper training. We will ask ourselves: ‘He says that this vitamin, herb, or diet helped people, but do I know for sure that it really helped them? Even if it has helped others, how do I know that it will help me? Should I do more research and talk to some who are well-trained to treat my health problem?’​—Deuteronomy 17:6.

16. What should we consider when making decisions about our health?

¹⁶ When we are deciding which test to have or which treatment to accept, we need to have “soundness of mind,” or use good sense. (Titus 2:12) This is especially important if the test or treatment seems very unusual. Can the person we consult explain how the test or treatment works? Is the explanation strange? Do many doctors agree that this test or treatment can cure people? (Proverbs 22:29) Perhaps someone tells us that a new cure has been discovered somewhere far away and that doctors do not yet know about it. But are there any facts that prove there is such a cure? Some may even offer treatments that use a secret ingredient or an unknown force. This can be very dangerous. Remember, God warns us not to use supernatural or magical powers.​—Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 1:13.

“GOOD HEALTH TO YOU!”

17. What normal desire do we have?

¹⁷ The governing body in the first century sent a letter to the brothers in the congregations to tell them some things that they had to avoid. At the end of the letter, the governing body wrote: “If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!” (Acts 15:29) Although the last few words were just another way to say good-bye, they remind us that it is normal to want to have good health.

18, 19. What can we look forward to in the new world?

¹⁸ Because we are imperfect, we cannot avoid all sickness. And when we get sick, we do not expect a miracle from Jehovah to heal us. But we can look forward to the future when God will heal us completely. At Revelation 22:1, 2, the apostle John spoke about “water of life” and “trees of life” that will heal everyone. This does not refer to some herbal remedy that we can take now or in the new world to heal us. Instead, it refers to all that Jehovah and Jesus will do so that we can live forever.​—Isaiah 35:5, 6.

¹⁹ We look forward to that wonderful time. But for now, we are sure that Jehovah loves each one of us and that he understands how we feel when we suffer. Like David, we are confident that if we get sick, Jehovah will not abandon us. He will always take care of those who are faithful to him.​—Psalm 41:12.

MY MOTHER asked me: “And just why won’t you worship your ancestors? Don’t you realize that it’s because of them that you have life? Will you show them no gratitude? How can you cast off customs handed down for generations? Refusing to honor our ancestors is saying that our worship is foolish.” After saying this, Mom started to cry.

A few months before that, Jehovah’s Witnesses had offered my mom a Bible study. She did not want to study, but to be polite she arranged for them to study with me. And now she was upset with me, which was unusual because I had always obeyed her. However, because I wanted to make Jehovah happy, this time I could not obey her. It was not easy, but Jehovah gave me the strength.

LEARNING ABOUT JEHOVAH

My family were Buddhists, like most people in Japan. But after two months of studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was convinced that the Bible is true. When I learned that I had a heavenly Father, I really wanted to know him well. At first, Mom and I enjoyed talking about what I was learning. I began attending Sunday meetings at the Kingdom Hall. As I learned more, I told Mom that I would stop participating in Buddhist ceremonies. Suddenly, her attitude changed. She said, “Having someone in the family who has no love for our ancestors is a disgrace.” She demanded that I stop studying the Bible and attending meetings. I never imagined that my mother would say this! She was like a different person.

Dad agreed with Mom. I had learned from Ephesians chapter 6 that Jehovah wanted me to obey my parents. I wanted our family to be peaceful again, and I thought that if I listened to them, they would eventually listen to me. At that time, I had to prepare for my school exams, so I agreed to do as my parents said for three months. But I promised Jehovah that I would attend the meetings again when that time was up.

My decision was bad for two reasons. First, I thought that after three months I would still have a strong desire to serve Jehovah. Instead, my relationship with him became weak very quickly. Second, Mom and Dad tried even harder to convince me to stop serving Jehovah.

HELP AND OPPOSITION

At the Kingdom Hall, I had met many Witnesses who were opposed by their family. They assured me that Jehovah would strengthen me. (Matthew 10:34-37) They explained to me that if I remained faithful to Jehovah, my family could learn about him. I wanted to rely on Jehovah, so I started praying intensely.

My family opposed me in different ways. Mom begged me to stop studying and tried to reason with me. Most times, I just kept quiet. When I did say something, we would often argue because we were both trying to prove that we were right. Now I realize that if I had been more respectful of Mom’s feelings and beliefs, things might have been calmer. My parents gave me more chores to keep me in the house. Sometimes they locked me out of the house or did not leave me any food.

Mom asked others to help her convince me. She talked to my teacher, but this did not work. Mom took me to her manager at work so that he could persuade me that all religions were useless. She also telephoned our relatives and cried as she begged them for help. That upset me very much. But at the meetings, the elders reminded me that when Mom talked to others about our situation, she was actually witnessing to them.

My parents wanted me to go to university so that I could find a good job. We were all too upset to talk about this matter in a calm way, so I wrote them several letters to explain my goals. Dad got very angry and said, “If you think that you can find a job, find it by tomorrow or else you leave this house.” I prayed to Jehovah and asked him to help me. The very next day, while I was in service, two different sisters offered me a job teaching their children. Dad was not happy about this, so he stopped talking to me and began to ignore me. Mom said that it would have been better for me to be a criminal than one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Sometimes I was not sure whether Jehovah wanted me to resist my parents this much. So I prayed to Jehovah and meditated on what the Bible says about his love. This helped me to be more positive and to understand that my parents opposed me because they were worried about me. Jehovah helped me to correct my thinking and to know what to do. Also, the more I went out in the ministry, the more I enjoyed it. Yes, I wanted to be a pioneer.

SERVING AS A PIONEER

When some sisters heard that I wanted to pioneer, they told me that I should wait for my parents to calm down. I prayed for wisdom, did research, thought about the reasons why I wanted to pioneer, and talked to experienced brothers and sisters. I then decided that I wanted to make Jehovah happy. I also understood that even if I waited some time before starting to pioneer, my parents might still oppose me.

I started to pioneer during my last year of high school. After pioneering for a while, I wanted to go to an area where the need was greater. But Mom and Dad did not want me to leave home. So I waited until I was 20 years old. Then I asked the branch office for an assignment near my relatives in southern Japan so that Mom would not worry so much.

While I was in that assignment, I was happy to see several of my Bible students get baptized. I started to study English because I wanted to do more in my service. Then, after seeing the zeal of two special pioneers in my congregation and how they helped others, I decided that I too wanted to become a special pioneer. During this time, Mom got seriously sick twice, and both times I returned home to help her. This surprised her, and she became a little kinder toward me.

MANY BLESSINGS FROM JEHOVAH

Seven years later, Atsushi, one of the special pioneers I spoke about earlier, sent me a letter. He was interested in getting married and wondered how I felt about him. I never had romantic feelings for Atsushi, and I did not think that he had any for me. A month later, I answered that I was willing to get to know him better. We realized that we had the same goals. We wanted to continue in the full-time service and were willing to accept any assignment. Eventually, we got married. I was very happy that Mom, Dad, and other relatives came to our wedding.

Soon afterward, while we were serving as regular pioneers, Atsushi was appointed a substitute circuit overseer. Later, we were assigned as special pioneers and then to the regular circuit work. When we had finished visiting all the congregations in our circuit for the first time, the branch office telephoned us. They asked if we were willing to move to Nepal and continue in the circuit work there.

I was worried about how my parents would feel about me moving so far away. When I telephoned them, Dad’s answer was, “You’ll be going to a nice place.” Just a week before, one of his friends had given him a book about Nepal, and Dad had even been thinking that it would be a nice place to visit.

We were happy to be among the friendly people of Nepal. Later, Bangladesh was added to our circuit. Although it was close to Nepal, it was very different. We had a lot of variety in our field service. After five years, we were assigned back to Japan, where we now enjoy the circuit work.

I learned so much about Jehovah while serving in Japan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. People in these countries have different cultures, habits, and customs. And each person is unique. I have seen how Jehovah cares for people individually, accepts them, and helps and blesses them.

I have so many things to thank Jehovah for. He has allowed me to know him and do his work, and he has given me a fine Christian husband. God has helped me to make good decisions, and now I have a good relationship with him and with my family. Thanks to Jehovah, Mom and I are good friends again. I am deeply grateful that I found peace with God and with my mother.