« | Leviticus 22 | » |
1 The LORD told Moses
2 to say to Aaron and his sons: I am the LORD God, and I demand that you honor my holy name by showing proper respect for the offerings brought to me by the people of Israel.
3 If any of you are unclean when you accept an offering for me, I will no longer let you serve as a priest.
4 None of you may take part in the sacred meals while you have a skin disease or an infected penis, or after you have been near a dead body or have had a flow of semen,
5 or if you have touched an unclean creature of any sort, including an unclean person.
6 Once you are unclean, you must take a bath, but you still cannot eat any of the sacred food until evening.
7 (SEE 22:6)
8 I command you not to eat anything that is killed by a wild animal or dies a natural death. This would make you unclean.
9 Obey me, or you will die on duty for disgracing the place of worship. Remember--I am the LORD, the one who makes a priest holy.
10 Only you priests and your families may eat the food offerings; these are too sacred for any of your servants.
11 However, any slave that you own, including those born into your household, may eat this food.
12 If your daughter marries someone who isn't a priest, she can no longer have any of this food.
13 But if she returns to your home, either widowed or divorced, and has no children, she may join in the meal. Only members of a priestly family can eat this food,
14 and anyone else who accidentally does so, must pay for the food plus a fine of twenty percent.
15 I warn you not to treat lightly the offerings that are brought by the people of Israel.
16 Don't let them become guilty of eating this sacred food. Remember--I am the LORD, the one who makes these offerings holy.
17 The LORD told Moses
18 to tell Aaron and his sons and everyone else the rules for offering sacrifices. He said: The animals that are to be completely burned on the altar
19 must have nothing wrong with them, or else I won't accept them. Bulls or rams or goats are the animals to be used for these sacrifices.
20 (SEE 22:19)
21 When you offer a sacrifice to ask my blessing, there must be nothing wrong with the animal. This is true, whether the sacrifice is part of a promise or something you do voluntarily.
22 Don't offer an animal that is blind or injured or that has an infection or a skin disease.
23 If one of your cattle or lambs has a leg that is longer or shorter than the others, you may offer it voluntarily, but not as part of a promise.
24 As long as you live in this land, don't offer an animal with injured testicles.
25 And don't bring me animals you bought from a foreigner. I won't accept them, because they are no better than one that has something wrong with it.
26 The LORD told Moses to say:
27 Newborn cattle, sheep, or goats must remain with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day, you may send them up in smoke to me, and I will accept the offering.
28 Don't sacrifice a newborn animal and its mother on the same day.
29 When you offer a sacrifice to give thanks to me, you must do it in a way that is acceptable.
30 Eat all of the meat that same day and don't save any for the next day. I am the LORD your God!
31 Obey my laws and teachings--I am the LORD.
32 I demand respect from the people of Israel, so don't disgrace my holy name. Remember--I am the one who chose you to be priests and rescued all of you from Egypt, so that I would be your LORD.
33 (SEE 22:32)
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.