« | Psalm 106 | » |
1 We will celebrate and praise you, LORD! You are good to us, and your love never fails.
2 No one can praise you enough for all of the mighty things you have done.
3 You bless those people who are honest and fair in everything they do.
4 Remember me, LORD, when you show kindness by saving your people.
5 Let me prosper with the rest of your chosen ones, as they celebrate with pride because they belong to you.
6 We and our ancestors have sinned terribly.
7 When they were in Egypt, they paid no attention to your marvelous deeds or your wonderful love. And they turned against you at the Red Sea.
8 But you were true to your name, and you rescued them to prove how mighty you are.
9 You said to the Red Sea, "Dry up!" Then you led your people across on land as dry as a desert.
10 You saved all of them
11 and drowned every one of their enemies.
12 Then your people trusted you and sang your praises.
13 But they soon forgot what you had done and rejected your advice.
14 They became greedy for food and tested you there in the desert.
15 So you gave them what they wanted, but later you destroyed them with a horrible disease.
16 Everyone in camp was jealous of Moses and of Aaron, your chosen priest.
17 Dathan and Abiram rebelled, and the earth opened up and swallowed them.
18 Then fire broke out and destroyed all of their followers.
19 At Horeb your people made and worshiped the statue
20 of a bull, instead of you, their glorious God.
21 You worked powerful miracles to save them from Egypt, but they forgot about you
22 and the fearsome things you did at the Red Sea.
23 You were angry and started to destroy them, but Moses, your chosen leader, begged you not to do it.
24 They would not trust you, LORD, and they did not like the promised land.
25 They would not obey you, and they grumbled in their tents.
26 So you threatened them by saying, "I'll kill you out here in the desert!
27 I'll scatter your children everywhere in the world."
28 Your people became followers of a god named Baal Peor, and they ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29 They did such terrible things that you punished them with a deadly disease.
30 But Phinehas helped them, and the sickness stopped.
31 Now he will always be highly honored.
32 At Meribah Spring they turned against you and made you furious.
33 Then Moses got into trouble for speaking in anger.
34 Our LORD, they disobeyed you by refusing to destroy the nations.
35 Instead they were friendly with those foreigners and followed their customs.
36 Then they fell into the trap of worshiping idols.
37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons
38 and to the gods of Canaan. Then they poured out the blood of these innocent children and made the land filthy.
39 By doing such gruesome things, they also became filthy.
40 Finally, LORD, you were angry and terribly disgusted with your people.
41 So you put them in the power of nations that hated them.
42 They were mistreated and abused by their enemies,
43 but you saved them time after time. They were determined to rebel, and their sins caused their downfall.
44 You answered their prayers when they were in trouble.
45 You kept your agreement and were so merciful
46 that their enemies had pity on them.
47 Save us, LORD God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and shout in praise of your holy name.
48 LORD God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever. Let everyone say, "Amen! Shout praises to the LORD!"
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.