« | Luke 17 | » |
1 Jesus said to his disciples: There will always be something that causes people to sin. But anyone who causes them to sin is in for trouble. A person who causes even one of my little followers to sin
2 would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck.
3 So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry.
4 Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, "I am sorry," you should still forgive that person.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith stronger!"
6 Jesus replied: If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!
7 If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, "Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat"?
8 No, you wouldn't say that. You would say, "Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink."
9 Servants don't deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed to do.
10 And that's how it should be with you. When you've done all you should, then say, "We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty."
11 On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance
13 and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14 Jesus looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." On their way they were healed.
15 When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God.
16 He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria.
17 Jesus asked, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine?
18 Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?"
19 Then Jesus told the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well."
20 Some Pharisees asked Jesus when God's kingdom would come. He answered, "God's kingdom isn't something you can see.
21 There is no use saying, 'Look! Here it is' or 'Look! There it is.' God's kingdom is here with you."
22 Jesus said to his disciples: The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not.
23 When people say to you, "Look there," or "Look here," don't go looking for him.
24 The day of the Son of Man will be like lightning flashing across the sky.
25 But first he must suffer terribly and be rejected by the people of today.
26 When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lived.
27 People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat. Then the flood came and drowned everyone on earth.
28 When Lot lived, people were also eating and drinking. They were buying, selling, planting, and building.
29 But on the very day Lot left Sodom, fiery flames poured down from the sky and killed everyone.
30 The same will happen on the day when the Son of Man appears.
31 At that time no one on a rooftop should go down into the house to get anything. No one in a field should go back to the house for anything.
32 Remember what happened to Lot's wife.
33 People who try to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them.
34 On that night two people will be sleeping in the same bed, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.
35 Two women will be together grinding wheat, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.
36 (SEE 17:35)
37 Then Jesus' disciples spoke up, "But where will this happen, Lord?" Jesus said, "Where there is a corpse, there will always be buzzards."
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.