« | Micah 7 |
1 I feel so empty inside-- like someone starving for grapes or figs, after the vines and trees have all been picked clean.
2 No one is loyal to God; no one does right. Everyone is brutal and eager to deceive everyone else.
3 People cooperate to commit crime. Judges and leaders demand bribes, and rulers cheat in court.
4 The most honest of them is worse than a thorn patch. Your doom has come! Lookouts sound the warning, and everyone panics.
5 Don't trust anyone, not even your best friend, and be careful what you say to the one you love.
6 Sons refuse to respect their own fathers, daughters rebel against their own mothers, and daughters-in-law despise their mothers-in-law. Your family is now your enemy.
7 But I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer.
8 My enemies, don't be glad because of my troubles! I may have fallen, but I will get up; I may be sitting in the dark, but the LORD is my light.
9 I have sinned against the LORD. And so I must endure his anger, until he comes to my defense. But I know that I will see him making things right for me and leading me to the light.
10 You, my enemies, said, "The LORD God is helpless." Now each of you will be disgraced and put to shame. I will see you trampled like mud in the street.
11 Towns of Judah, the day is coming when your walls will be rebuilt, and your boundaries enlarged.
12 People will flock to you from Assyria and Egypt, from Babylonia and everywhere else.
13 Those nations will suffer disaster because of what they did.
14 Lead your people, LORD! Come and be our shepherd. Grasslands surround us, but we live in a forest. So lead us to Bashan and Gilead, and let us find pasture as we did long ago.
15 I, the LORD, will work miracles just as I did when I led you out of Egypt.
16 Nations will see this and be ashamed because of their helpless armies. They will be in shock, unable to speak or hear,
17 because of their fear of me, your LORD and God. Then they will come trembling, crawling out of their fortresses like insects or snakes, lapping up the dust.
18 Our God, no one is like you. We are all that is left of your chosen people, and you freely forgive our sin and guilt. You don't stay angry forever; you're glad to have pity
19 and pleased to be merciful. You will trample on our sins and throw them in the sea.
20 You will keep your word and be faithful to Jacob and to Abraham, as you promised our ancestors many years ago.
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.