« | Ezekiel 42 | » |
1 After the man and I left the temple and walked back to the outer courtyard, he showed me a set of rooms on the north side of the west building. This set of rooms was one hundred seventy feet long and eighty-five feet wide.
2 (SEE 42:1)
3 On one side of them was the thirty-four feet of open space that ran alongside the temple, and on the other side was the sidewalk that circled the outer courtyard. The rooms were arranged in three levels
4 with doors that opened toward the north, and in front of them was a walkway seventeen feet wide and one hundred seventy feet long.
5 The rooms on the top level were narrower than those on the middle level, and the rooms on the middle level were narrower than those on the bottom level.
6 The rooms on the bottom level supported those on the two upper levels, and so these rooms did not have columns like other buildings in the courtyard.
7 To the north was a privacy wall eighty-five feet long,
8 (SEE 42:7)
9 and at the east end of this wall was the door leading from the courtyard to these rooms. There was also a set of rooms on the south side of the west building.
10 (SEE 42:9)
11 These rooms were exactly like those on the north side, and they also had a walkway in front of them.
12 The door to these rooms was at the east end of the wall that stood in front of them.
13 The man then said to me: These rooms on the north and south sides of the temple are the sacred rooms where the LORD's priests will eat the most holy offerings. These offerings include the grain sacrifices, the sacrifices for sin, and the sacrifices to make things right.
14 When the priests are ready to leave the temple, they must go through these rooms before they return to the outer courtyard. They must leave their sacred clothes in these rooms and put on regular clothes before going anywhere near other people.
15 After the man had finished measuring the buildings inside the temple area, he took me back through the east gate and measured the wall around this area.
16 He used his measuring stick to measure the east side of this wall; it was eight hundred forty feet long.
17 Then he measured the north side, the south side, and the west side of the wall, and they were each eight hundred forty feet long,
18 (SEE 42:17)
19 (SEE 42:17)
20 and so the temple area was a perfect square. The wall around this area separated what was sacred from what was ordinary.
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.