« | Numbers 30 | » |
1 The LORD told Moses to say to Israel's tribal leaders:
2 When one of you men makes a promise to the LORD, you must keep your word.
3 Suppose a young woman who is still living with her parents makes a promise to the LORD.
4 If her father hears about it and says nothing, she must keep her promise.
5 But if he hears about it and objects, then she no longer has to keep her promise. The LORD will forgive her, because her father did not agree with the promise.
6 Suppose a woman makes a promise to the LORD and then gets married. If her husband later hears about the promise but says nothing, she must do what she said, whether she meant it or not.
7 (SEE 30:6)
8 But if her husband hears about the promise and objects, she no longer has to keep it, and the LORD will forgive her.
9 Widows and divorced women must keep every promise they make to the LORD.
10 Suppose a married woman makes a promise to the LORD.
11 If her husband hears about the promise and says nothing, she must do what she said.
12 But if he hears about the promise and does object, she no longer has to keep it. The LORD will forgive her, because her husband would not allow her to keep the promise.
13 Her husband has the final say about any promises she makes to the LORD.
14 If her husband hears about a promise and says nothing about it for a whole day, she must do what she said--since he did not object, the promise must be kept.
15 But if he waits until the next day to stop her from keeping her promise, he is the one who must be punished.
16 These are the laws that the LORD gave Moses about husbands and wives, and about young daughters who still live at home.
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.