« | Isaiah 60 | » |
1 "Jerusalem, get up and shine! Your Light is coming! The Glory of the Lord will shine on you.
2 Darkness now covers the earth, and the people are in darkness. But the Lord will shine on you, and his Glory will appear over you.
3 Then the nations will come to your light. Kings will come to your bright sunrise.
4 Look around you! See all the people gathering around. Those are your sons coming from far away, and your daughters are there beside them.
5 "At that time you will see your people, and your faces will shine with happiness. First, you will be afraid, but then you will be excited. All the riches from across the seas will be set before you. The riches of the nations will come to you.
6 Herds of camels from Midian and Ephah will cross your land. Long lines of camels will come from Sheba. They will bring gold and incense. People will sing praises to the Lord.
7 People will collect all the sheep from Kedar and give them to you. They will bring you rams from Nebaioth. You will offer those animals on my altar, and I will accept them. I will make my wonderful Temple even more beautiful.
8 Look at the people. They are rushing toward you like clouds quickly crossing the sky. They are like doves flying to their nests.
9 The faraway lands are waiting for me. The great cargo ships are ready to sail. They are ready to bring your children from faraway lands. They will bring silver and gold with them to honor the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. The Lord does wonderful things for you.
10 Children from other lands will rebuild your walls. Their kings will serve you. "When I was angry, I hurt you, but now I want to be kind to you. So I will comfort you.
11 Your gates will always be open. They will not be closed, day or night. Nations and kings will bring their wealth to you.
12 Any nation or kingdom that does not serve you will be destroyed.
13 All the great things of Lebanon will be given to you. People will bring pine trees, fir trees, and cypress trees to you. These trees will be used for lumber to make my Holy Place more beautiful. This place is like a stool in front of my throne, and I will honor it.
14 In the past, people hurt you, but they will bow down before you. In the past, people hated you, but they will bow down at your feet. They will call you 'The City of the Lord,' 'Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'
15 "People hated you. You were left all alone with no one passing through. But I will make you great from now on. You will be happy forever and ever.
16 Nations will give you what you need, like a child drinking milk from its mother. But you will 'drink' riches from kings. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, who saves you. You will know that I, the Great God of Jacob, protect you.
17 "You now have copper, but I will bring you gold. You now have iron, but I will bring you silver. I will change your wood into copper and your rocks into iron. I will change your punishment into peace. And those who punished you will be replaced with those who are kind to you.
18 There will never again be news of violence in your country. People will never again attack your country and steal from you. You will name your walls, 'Salvation' and your gates, 'Praise.'
19 "The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The light from the moon will no longer be your light at night. The Lord will be your light forever. Your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun will never go down again. Your moon will never again be dark. That's because the Lord will be your light forever, and the dark days of mourning will end.
21 "All your people will be good. They will get the land forever. They are the young plant in my garden that will grow to be a wonderful tree. I made them with my own hands.
22 The smallest family will become a large family group. The smallest tribe will become a powerful nation. When the time is right, I, the Lord, will come quickly. I will make these things happen."
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.