« | Psalm 87 | » |
1 (A psalm and a song by the people of Korah.) Zion was built by the LORD on the holy mountain,
2 and he loves that city more than any other place in all of Israel.
3 Zion, you are the city of God, and wonderful things are told about you.
4 Egypt, Babylonia, Philistia, Phoenicia, and Ethiopia are some of those nations that know you, and their people all say, "I was born in Zion."
5 God Most High will strengthen the city of Zion. Then everyone will say, "We were born here too."
6 The LORD will make a list of his people, and all who were born here will be included.
7 All who sing or dance will say, "I too am from Zion."
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.