Ecclesiastes 1 | » |
1 When the son of David was king in Jerusalem, he was known to be very wise, and he said:
2 Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all-- nothing makes sense!
3 What is there to show for all of our hard work here on this earth?
4 People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
5 The sun comes up, the sun goes down; it hurries right back to where it started from.
6 The wind blows south, the wind blows north; round and round it blows over and over again.
7 All rivers empty into the sea, but it never spills over; one by one the rivers return to their source.
8 All of life is far more boring than words could ever say. Our eyes and our ears are never satisfied with what we see and hear.
9 Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun.
10 Someone might say, "Here is something new!" But it happened before, long before we were born.
11 No one who lived in the past is remembered anymore, and everyone yet to be born will be forgotten too.
12 I said these things when I lived in Jerusalem as king of Israel.
13 With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do.
14 I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind.
15 If something is crooked, it can't be made straight; if something isn't there, it can't be counted.
16 I said to myself, "You are by far the wisest person who has ever lived in Jerusalem. You are eager to learn, and you have learned a lot."
17 Then I decided to find out all I could about wisdom and foolishness. Soon I realized that this too was as senseless as chasing the wind.
18 The more you know, the more you hurt; the more you understand, the more you suffer.
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.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
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.