« | Exodus 15 | » |
1 Then Moses and the Israelites began singing this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord! He has done great things. He threw horse and rider into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength. He saves me, and I sing songs of praise to him. He is my God, and I praise him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I honor him.
3 The Lord is a great soldier. The Lord is his name.
4 He threw Pharaoh's chariots and soldiers into the sea. Pharaoh's very best soldiers drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep water covered them, and they sank to the bottom like rocks.
6 "Lord, your right hand is amazingly strong. With your right hand, Lord, you broke the enemy to pieces.
7 In your great majesty you destroyed those who stood against you. Your anger destroyed them, like fire burning straw.
8 The wind you sent in anger piled the water high. The flowing water became a wall, solid to its deepest parts.
9 "The enemy said, 'I'll chase them and catch them. I'll take all their riches. I'll take it all with my sword. I'll take everything for myself.'
10 But you blew on them and covered them with the sea. They sank like lead into the deep sea.
11 "Are there any gods like the Lord? No, there are no gods like you— You are wonderfully holy! You are amazingly powerful! You do great miracles!
12 You raised your right hand to punish the enemy, and the ground opened up to swallow them.
13 But with your kindness you led the people you saved. And with your strength you led them to your holy land.
14 "The other nations will hear this story, and they will be frightened. The Philistines will shake with fear.
15 The commanders of Edom will tremble. The leaders of Moab will be afraid. The people of Canaan will lose courage.
16 They will be filled with fear when they see your strength. They will be as still as a rock, Lord, while your people, the ones you made, pass by.
17 You will lead your people to your mountain. You will let them live near the place that you, Lord, prepared for your throne. You will build your temple.
18 "The Lord will rule forever and ever!"
19 Yes, it really happened! Pharaoh's horses and riders, and chariots went into the sea. And the Lord brought all the water of the sea down on top of them. But the Israelites walked through that sea on dry land.
20 Then Aaron's sister, the woman prophet Miriam, took a tambourine. She and the women began singing and dancing.
21 Miriam repeated the words, "Sing to the Lord! He has done great things. He threw horse and rider into the sea —"
22 Moses led the Israelites away from the Red Sea and into the Shur desert. They traveled for three days in the desert. They could not find any water.
23 Then they came to Marah. There was water at Marah, but it was too bitter to drink. (That is why the place was named Marah.)
24 The people began complaining to Moses. They said, "Now what will we drink?"
25 So Moses called to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a large piece of wood. When Moses put the wood in the water, the water became good to drink. There the Lord put in place a law and a command for him and tested him to see if he would obey.
26 The Lord said to him, "I am the Lord your God. If you listen to me and do what I say is right, and if you obey all my commands and laws, then I will not give you any of the sicknesses that I gave the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you."
27 Then the people traveled to Elim. At Elim there were twelve springs of water and 70 palm trees. So the people made their camp there near that water.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.