« | Jeremiah 42 | » |
1 Johanan, Jezaniah, the other army officers, and everyone else in the group, came to me
2 and said, "Please pray to the LORD your God for us. Judah used to have many people, but as you can see, only a few of us are left.
3 Ask the LORD to tell us where he wants us to go and what he wants us to do."
4 "All right," I answered, "I will pray to the LORD your God, and I will tell you everything he says."
5 They answered, "The LORD himself will be our witness that we promise to do whatever he says,
6 even if it isn't what we want to do. We will obey the LORD so that all will go well for us."
7 Ten days later, the LORD gave me an answer for
8 Johanan, the officers, and the other people. So I called them together
9 and told them that the LORD God of Israel had said: You asked Jeremiah to pray and find out what you should do.
10 I am sorry that I had to punish you, and so I now tell you to stay here in Judah, where I will plant you and build you up, instead of tearing you down and uprooting you.
11 Don't be afraid of the King of Babylonia. I will protect you from him,
12 and I will even force him to have mercy on you and give back your farms.
13 But you might keep on saying, "We won't stay here in Judah, and we won't obey the LORD our God.
14 We are going to Egypt, where there is plenty of food and no danger of war."
15 People of Judah, you survived when the Babylonian army attacked. Now you are planning to move to Egypt, and if you do go, this is what will happen.
16 You are afraid of war, starvation, and disease here in Judah, but they will follow you to Egypt and kill you there. None of you will survive the disasters I will send.
17 (SEE 42:16)
18 I, the LORD, was angry with the people of Jerusalem and punished them. And if you go to Egypt, I will be angry and punish you the same way. You will never again see your homeland. People will be horrified at what I do to you, and they will use the name of your city as a curse word.
19 I told the people: You escaped the disaster that struck Judah, but now the LORD warns you to stay away from Egypt.
20 You asked me to pray and find out what the LORD our God wants you to do, and you promised to obey him. But that was a terrible mistake,
21 because now that I have given you the LORD's answer, you refuse to obey him.
22 And so, you will die in Egypt from war, hunger, and disease.
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.