« | Genesis 21 | » |
1 The LORD was good to Sarah and kept his promise.
2 Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said.
3 Abraham named his son Isaac,
4 and when the boy was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, just as the LORD had commanded.
5 Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born,
6 and Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. Now everyone will laugh with me.
7 Who would have dared to tell Abraham that someday I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son."
8 The time came when Sarah no longer had to nurse Isaac, and on that day Abraham gave a big feast.
9 One day, Sarah noticed Hagar's son Ishmael playing, and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that Egyptian slave woman and her son! I don't want him to inherit anything. It should all go to my son."
10 (SEE 21:9)
11 Abraham was worried about Ishmael.
12 But God said, "Abraham, don't worry about your slave woman and the boy. Just do what Sarah tells you. Isaac will inherit your family name,
13 but the son of the slave woman is also your son, and I will make his descendants into a great nation."
14 Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar an animal skin full of water and some bread. Then he put the boy on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered around in the desert near Beersheba,
15 and after they had run out of water, Hagar put her son under a bush.
16 Then she sat down a long way off, because she could not bear to watch him die. And she cried bitterly.
17 When God heard the boy crying, the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven and said, "Hagar, why are you worried? Don't be afraid. I have heard your son crying.
18 Help him up and hold his hand, because I will make him the father of a great nation."
19 Then God let her see a well. So she went to the well and filled the skin with water, then gave some to her son.
20 God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. He lived in the Paran Desert, and his mother chose an Egyptian woman for him to marry.
21 (SEE 21:20)
22 About this time Abimelech and his army commander Phicol said to Abraham, "God blesses everything you do!
23 Now I want you to promise in the name of God that you will always be loyal to me and my descendants, just as I have always been loyal to you in this land where you have lived as a foreigner."
24 And so, Abraham promised.
25 One day, Abraham told Abimelech, "Some of your servants have taken over one of my wells."
26 "This is the first I've heard about it," Abimelech replied. "Why haven't you said something before? I don't have any idea who did it."
27 Abraham gave Abimelech some sheep and cattle, and then the two men made a peace treaty.
28 Abraham separated seven female lambs from his flock of sheep,
29 and Abimelech asked, "Why have you done this?"
30 Abraham told him, "I want you to accept these seven lambs as proof that I dug this well."
31 So they called the place Beersheba, because they made a treaty there.
32 When the treaty was completed, Abimelech and his army commander Phicol went back to the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped the eternal LORD God.
34 Then Abraham lived a long time as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines.
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.