                         THE ORIGINAL BIBLE READER
                         _________________________


   An easy way to learn the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the Holy Bible


   A major difficulty facing the Western student of Biblical languages is that
of alphabet.  The strange, "foreign" appearance of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek
characters can be intimidating.  Accents, vowel points and the left-to-right
reading of the text make a puzzle of language learning.  These hindrances are
eliminated by the system of transliteration used by the Original Bible Reader.
   Some may object to the unorthodox guide to pronunciation.  While differing
from the spoken language, it has the advantage of being easy to learn.  The
reader may however feel free to use more conventional pronunciation.
   Others may complain to the lack of accents, vowel points and punctuation.
May it be noted that these marks were absent in the original texts.  They were
added by relatively modern scribes.  For the most part, they are not necessary
for understanding the sense of the text.  Context is the best teacher: this
is the advantage possessed by the native speaker.  Grammar may be pursued after
basic reading skills and vocabulary are mastered.

                           "Sink or Swim"

   There are different ways to learn another language.  Like learning to
swim, this may be accomplished through a series of lessons.  But a faster
way may be to "jump in!"  So learns a child to speak his native tongue.  The
language student may similarly jump in and start reading.  He sounds out the
words of the unknown text.  He may jot down common words for a beginning
vocabulary.  He can then compare the text with that of an English version.
Thus he escapes the tedium of a formal or traditional approach.  A fundamental
overview of the language is gained.  Lexical definitions and grammar may be
studied later.
   The Original Bible Reader consists of language learning tools and of the
texts themselves.  For tools there are alphabets, vocabularies and grammars.
For texts there are the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek holy scriptures.  "All
materials of the Original Bible Reader, compiled from diverse sources ancient
and modern, are hereby released into the Public Domain."
   That many students may explore the rich treasures of the verbally inspired
Word of the Almighty God is my earnest prayer, through Jesus Christ our Lord
and Savior.

       "ani al sdi etelk lpni ueie tmim."  Genesis 17:1b (Hebrew)

       "ap elin din dktibn dteimnun disuo eu msiha bre dalea
    umn deimntun neuun lkun bsme hia dlolm."  John 20:31 (Aramaic)

                           --------------

   The following texts on 3 1/2" floppies are available:

        The Hebrew Old Testament                        
        The Aramaic New Testament          

           from:   Robert D. Wood
                   1312 W. 5th St.
                   Tempe AZ 85281





