« | Jeremiah 10 | » |
1 Family of Israel, listen to the Lord!
2 This is what he says: "Don't live like people from other nations. Don't be afraid of special signs in the sky. The other nations are afraid of what they see in the sky. But you must not be afraid of them.
3 The customs of other people are worth nothing. Their idols are nothing but wood from the forest. Their idols are made by workers with their chisels.
4 They make their idols beautiful with silver and gold. They use hammers and nails to fasten their idols down, so they will not fall over.
5 The idols of the other nations are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field. They cannot walk. They cannot talk, and the people must carry them. So don't be afraid of their idols. They cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you either."
6 Lord, there is no one like you! You are great! Your name is great and powerful!
7 Everyone should respect you, King of all the nations. You deserve their respect. There are many wise men among the nations, but not one of them is as wise as you.
8 All the people of the other nations are stupid and foolish. Their teachings come from worthless wooden statues.
9 They use silver from the city of Tarshish and gold from the city of Uphaz and make their statues. Carpenters and metalworkers make the idols. They put blue and purple clothes on them. "Wise men" make these "gods."
10 But the Lord is the only true God. He is the only God who is alive. He is the King who rules forever. The earth shakes when he is angry. The people of the nations cannot stop his anger.
11 The Lord says, "Tell them this message: 'These false gods did not make heaven and earth. They will be destroyed and disappear from heaven and earth.'"
12 God is the one who used his power and made the earth. He used his wisdom and built the world. With his understanding, he stretched the sky over the earth.
13 God causes the loud thunder, and he causes great floods of water to fall from the sky. He makes clouds rise in the sky every place on earth. He sends lightning with the rain. He brings out the wind from his storehouses.
14 People are so stupid! Metalworkers are fooled by the idols that they themselves made. These statues are nothing but lies. They are stupid.
15 These idols are worth nothing. They are something to make fun of. In the time of judgment, they will be destroyed.
16 But Jacob's God is not like the idols. He made everything, and Israel is the family that God chose to be his own people. His name is Lord All-Powerful.
17 Get everything you own and prepare to leave. People of Judah, you are trapped in the city, and the enemy is all around it.
18 This is what the Lord says: "This time, I will throw the people of Judah out of this country. I will bring pain and trouble to them. I will do this so that they will learn their lesson."
19 I am hurt badly. I am injured and I cannot be healed. Yet I told myself, "This is my sickness, I must suffer through it."
20 My tent is ruined. All its ropes are broken. My children left me. They are gone. No one is left to put up my tent. No one is left to fix a shelter for me.
21 The shepherds are stupid. They don't try to find the Lord. They are not wise, so their flocks are scattered and lost.
22 Listen! A loud noise! The loud noise is coming from the north. It will destroy the cities of Judah. Judah will become an empty desert. It will be a home for jackals.
23 Lord, I know people don't really know how to live right.
24 Lord, correct us! But be fair! Don't punish us in anger!
25 If you are angry, then punish the other nations. They don't know or respect you. They don't worship you. Those nations destroyed Jacob's family. They destroyed Israel completely. They destroyed Israel's homeland.
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.