« | Psalm 89 | » |
1 (A special psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite.) Our LORD, I will sing of your love forever. Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness.
2 I will tell them, "God's love can always be trusted, and his faithfulness lasts as long as the heavens."
3 You said, "David, my servant, is my chosen one, and this is the agreement I made with him:
4 David, one of your descendants will always be king."
5 Our LORD, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness.
6 None who live in the heavens can compare with you.
7 You are the most fearsome of all who live in heaven; all the others fear and greatly honor you.
8 You are LORD God All-Powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are.
9 You rule the roaring sea and calm its waves.
10 You crushed the monster Rahab, and with your powerful arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them
12 and everything else. Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon gladly praise you.
13 You are strong and mighty!
14 Your kingdom is ruled by justice and fairness with love and faithfulness leading the way.
15 Our LORD, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence.
16 We are happy all day because of you, and your saving power brings honor to us.
17 Your own glorious power makes us strong, and because of your kindness, our strength increases.
18 Our LORD and our King, the Holy One of Israel, you are truly our shield.
19 In a vision, you once said to your faithful followers: "I have helped a mighty hero. I chose him from my people and made him famous.
20 David, my servant, is the one I chose to be king,
21 and I will always be there to help and strengthen him.
22 "No enemy will outsmart David, and he won't be defeated by any hateful people.
23 I will strike down and crush his troublesome enemies.
24 He will always be able to depend on my love, and I will make him strong with my own power.
25 I will let him rule the lands across the rivers and seas.
26 He will say to me, 'You are my Father and my God, as well as the mighty rock where I am safe.'
27 "I have chosen David as my first-born son, and he will be the ruler of all kings on earth.
28 My love for him will last, and my agreement with him will never be broken.
29 "One of David's descendants will always be king, and his family will rule until the sky disappears.
30 Suppose some of his children should reject my Law and refuse my instructions.
31 Or suppose they should disobey all of my teachings.
32 Then I will correct and punish them because of their sins.
33 But I will always love David and faithfully keep all of my promises to him.
34 "I won't break my agreement or go back on my word.
35 I have sworn once and for all by my own holy name, and I won't lie to David.
36 His family will always rule. I will let his kingdom last as long as the sun
37 and moon appear in the sky."
38 You are now angry, God, and you have turned your back on your chosen king.
39 You broke off your agreement with your servant, the king, and you completely destroyed his kingdom.
40 The walls of his city have been broken through, and every fortress now lies in ruin.
41 All who pass by take what they want, and nations everywhere joke about the king.
42 You made his enemies powerful and let them celebrate.
43 But you forced him to retreat because you did not fight on his side.
44 You took his crown and threw his throne in the dirt.
45 You made an old man of him and put him to shame.
46 How much longer, LORD? Will you hide forever? How long will your anger keep burning like fire?
47 Remember, life is short! Why did you empty our lives of all meaning?
48 No one can escape the power of death and the grave.
49 Our Lord, where is the love you have always shown and that you promised so faithfully to David?
50 Remember your servant, Lord! People make jokes about me, and I suffer many insults.
51 I am your chosen one, but your enemies chase and make fun of me.
52 Our LORD, we praise you forever. Amen and amen.
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.