« | Isaiah 47 | » |
1 "Fall down and sit in the dirt, Virgin Daughter Babylon. You have no throne, so sit on the ground, daughter of the Chaldeans. You are not the ruler now. You are no longer the beautiful young princess that people said you were.
2 Get the millstones ready and grind the grain into flour. Take off your veil and fancy clothes. Lift your skirt and get ready to cross the rivers.
3 Men will see your naked body and use you for sex. I will make you pay for the bad things you did, and I will not let anyone help you.
4 "My people say, 'God saves us. His name is the Lord All-Powerful, the Holy One of Israel. '"
5 "So Babylon, sit down and shut up. Daughter of the Chaldeans, go into the dark prison. You will no longer be 'The Queen of the Kingdoms.'
6 "I was angry with my people. They were mine, but I turned against them. I let you punish them, but you showed them no mercy. Even for those who were old you made the work hard.
7 You said, 'I will live forever. I will always be the queen.' You didn't care what you did to my people. You didn't think about what might happen later.
8 So now listen, you who love only pleasure! Feeling so safe, you tell yourself, 'I alone am important, and no one else matters. I will never be a widow or lose my children.'
9 These two things will happen to you: First, you will lose your children and then your husband. And none of your magic spells will help you.
10 You do bad things but still feel safe. You say to yourself, 'No one sees the wrong I do.' You thought that your wisdom and knowledge would save you. You tell yourself, 'I alone am important, and no one else matters.'
11 "But disaster is coming your way. You don't know when it will happen, but disaster is coming. And there is nothing you can do to stop it.
12 You worked hard all your life learning magic tricks and spells. So start using that magic. Maybe those tricks will help you. Maybe you will be able to frighten someone.
13 You have many advisors. Are you tired of the advice they give? Then send out your men who read the stars. They can tell when the month starts, so maybe they can tell you when your troubles will come.
14 But they cannot even save themselves. They will burn like straw. They will burn so fast that there will be no coals left to cook bread. There will be no fire left to sit by.
15 That's what will happen to those you have worked with, the people you did business with all your life. They will all go their own way. There will be no one left to save you."
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.