« | Ezekiel 15 | » |
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
2 "Son of man, are the pieces of wood from a grapevine any better than the little branches cut from trees in the forest? No!
3 Can you use that wood from a grapevine to make anything? No! Can you use that wood to make pegs to hang dishes on? No!
4 People throw that wood into the fire. The ends burn, and the middle is scorched.
5 If you cannot make anything from that wood before it is burned, you surely cannot make anything from that wood after it is burned!
6 So people throw the pieces of wood from a grapevine into the fire just like wood from any other tree in the forest. In the same way I will throw the people living in Jerusalem into the fire!" This is what the Lord God said.
7 "I will punish those people. But some of them will be like the sticks that don't burn completely. They will be punished, but they will not be destroyed completely. You will see that I punished them, and you will know that I am the Lord!
8 I will destroy that country because the people left me {to worship false gods}." This is what the Lord God said.
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.