« | Leviticus 15 | » |
1 The LORD told Moses and Aaron
2 to say to the community of Israel: Any man with an infected penis is unclean,
3 whether it is stopped up or keeps dripping.
4 Anything that he rests on or sits on is also unclean,
5 and if you touch either these or him, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
6 (SEE 15:5)
7 (SEE 15:5)
8 If you are spit on by the man, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
9 Any saddle or seat on which the man sits is unclean. And if you touch or carry either of these, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
10 (SEE 15:9)
11 If the man touches you without first washing his hands, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
12 Any clay pot that he touches must be destroyed, and any wooden bowl that he touches must be washed.
13 Seven days after the man gets well, he will be considered clean, if he washes his clothes and takes a bath in spring water.
14 On the eighth day he must bring either two doves or two pigeons to the front of my sacred tent and give them to a priest.
15 The priest will offer one of the birds as a sacrifice for sin and the other as a sacrifice to please me, then I will consider the man completely clean.
16 Any man who has a flow of semen must take a bath, but he still remains unclean until evening.
17 If the semen touches anything made of cloth or leather, these must be washed, but they still remain unclean until evening.
18 After having sex, both the man and the woman must take a bath, but they still remain unclean until evening.
19 When a woman has her monthly period, she remains unclean for seven days, and if you touch her, you must take a bath, but you remain unclean until evening.
20 Anything that she rests on or sits on is also unclean, and if you touch either of these, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
21 (SEE 15:20)
22 (SEE 15:20)
23 (SEE 15:20)
24 Any man who has sex with her during this time becomes unclean for seven days, and anything he rests on is also unclean.
25 Any woman who has a flow of blood outside her regular monthly period is unclean until it stops, just as she is during her monthly period.
26 Anything that she rests on or sits on during this time is also unclean, just as it would be during her period.
27 If you touch either of these, you must wash your clothes and take a bath, but you still remain unclean until evening.
28 Seven days after the woman gets well, she will be considered clean.
29 On the eighth day, she must bring either two doves or two pigeons to the front of my sacred tent and give them to a priest.
30 He will offer one of the birds as a sacrifice for sin and the other as a sacrifice to please me; then I will consider the woman completely clean.
31 When any of you are unclean, you must stay away from the rest of the community of Israel. Otherwise, my sacred tent will become unclean, and the whole nation will die.
32 These are the things you men must do if you become unclean because of an infected penis or if you have a flow of semen. And these are the things you women must do when you become unclean either because of your monthly period or an unusual flow of blood. This is also what you men must do if you have sex with a woman who is unclean.
33 (SEE 15:32)
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.