« | 2 Kings 22 | » |
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled thirty-one years from Jerusalem. His mother Jedidah was the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.
2 Josiah always obeyed the LORD, just as his ancestor David had done.
3 After Josiah had been king for eighteen years, he told Shaphan, one of his highest officials: Go to the LORD's temple
4 and ask Hilkiah the high priest to collect from the guards all the money that the people have donated.
5 Have Hilkiah give it to the men supervising the repairs to the temple. They can use some of the money to pay
6 the workers, and with the rest of it they can buy wood and stone for the repair work.
7 They are honest, so we won't ask them to keep track of the money.
8 While Shaphan was at the temple, Hilkiah handed him a book and said, "Look what I found here in the temple--The Book of God's Law." Shaphan read it,
9 then went back to Josiah and reported, "Your officials collected the money in the temple and gave it to the men supervising the repairs.
10 But there's something else, Your Majesty. The priest Hilkiah gave me this book." Then Shaphan read it out loud.
11 When Josiah heard what was in The Book of God's Law, he tore his clothes in sorrow.
12 At once he called together Hilkiah, Shaphan, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, and his own servant Asaiah. He said,
13 "The LORD must be furious with me and everyone else in Judah, because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Go find out what the LORD wants us to do."
14 The five men left right away and went to talk with Huldah the prophet. Her husband was Shallum, who was in charge of the king's clothes. Huldah lived in the northern part of Jerusalem, and when they met in her home,
15 she said: You were sent here by King Josiah, and this is what the LORD God of Israel says to him:
16 "Josiah, I am the LORD! And I will see to it that this country and everyone living in it will be destroyed. It will happen just as this book says.
17 The people of Judah have rejected me. They have offered sacrifices to foreign gods and have worshiped their own idols. I cannot stand it any longer. I am furious.
18 "Josiah, listen to what I am going to do.
19 I noticed how sad you were when you read that this country and its people would be completely wiped out. You even tore your clothes in sorrow, and I heard you cry.
20 So I will let you die in peace, before I destroy this place." The men left and took Huldah's answer back to Josiah.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
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Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.