« | Jeremiah 17 | » |
1 "The sins of the people of Judah are written down in a place where they cannot be erased. Their sins were cut into stone with an iron pen. Their sins were cut into stone with a diamond-tipped pen, and that stone is their heart. Their sins were cut into the horns of their altars.
2 Their children remember the altars that were dedicated to false gods. They remember the wooden poles that were dedicated to Asherah. They remember those things under the green trees and on the hills.
3 They remember those things on the mountains in the open country. The people of Judah have many treasures. I will give those things to other people. People will destroy all the high places in your country. You worshiped there, and that was a sin.
4 You will lose the land I gave you. I will let your enemies take you to be their slaves. That is because I am very angry. My anger is like a hot fire, and you will be burned forever."
5 This is what the Lord says: "Bad things will happen to those who trust only other people. Bad things will happen to those who depend on others for strength. That is because they have stopped trusting the Lord.
6 They are like a bush in a desert where no one lives. It is in a hot and dry land. It is in a bad soil. That bush does not know about the good things that God can give.
7 But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what he says.
8 They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
9 "Nothing can hide its evil as well as the human mind. It can be very sick, and no one really understands it.
10 But I am the Lord, and I can look into a person's heart. I can test a person's mind and decide what each one should have. I can give each person the right payment for what they do.
11 Sometimes a bird will hatch an egg that it did not lay. Those who cheat to get money are like that bird. But when their lives are half finished, they will lose the money. At the end of their lives, it will be clear they were fools."
12 From the very beginning, our Temple has been a glorious throne for God. It is a very important place.
13 Lord, you are the hope of Israel. You are like a spring of living water. Those who stop following the Lord will have a very short life.
14 Lord, if you heal me, I surely will be healed. Save me, and I surely will be saved. Lord, I praise you!
15 The people of Judah continue to ask me questions. They say, "Jeremiah, what about the message from the Lord? Let's see that message come true."
16 Lord, I did not run away from you. I followed you. I became the shepherd you wanted. I did not want the terrible day to come. Lord, you know what I said. You see all that is happening.
17 Lord, don't ruin me. I depend on you in times of trouble.
18 People are hurting me. Make them ashamed, but don't disappoint me. Let them be filled with fear, but don't give me any reason to fear. Bring the terrible day of disaster to my enemies. Break them, and break them again.
19 This is what the Lord said to me: "Jeremiah, go and stand at the People's Gate, where the kings of Judah go in and out. {Tell the people my message,} and then go to all the other gates of Jerusalem and do the same."
20 Say to the people, "Listen to the message of the Lord. Listen, kings of Judah. Listen, all you people of Judah. All you who come through these gates into Jerusalem, listen to me!
21 This is what the Lord says: 'Be careful that you don't carry a load on the Sabbath day. And don't bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
22 Don't bring a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don't do any work on that day. You must make the Sabbath day a holy day. I gave this same command to your ancestors,
23 but they did not obey me. They did not pay attention to me. Your ancestors were very stubborn. I punished them, but it did not do any good. They did not listen to me.
24 But you must be careful to obey me, says the Lord. You must not bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath. You must make the Sabbath day a holy day. You will do this by not doing any work on that day.
25 "'If you obey this command, the kings and leaders will be from David's family. It will be the kings who sit on David's throne and the leaders from Judah and Jerusalem who come through the gates of Jerusalem riding on chariots and on horses. And Jerusalem will have people living in it forever.
26 People will come to Jerusalem from the towns and villages of Judah, from the land where the tribe of Benjamin lives, from the western foothills, from the hill country, and from the Negev. All these people will bring burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, incense, and thank offerings to the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
27 "'But if you don't listen to me and obey me, bad things will happen. If you carry loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, you are not keeping it a holy day. So I will start a fire that cannot be put out. That fire will start at the gates of Jerusalem, and it will burn until it burns even the palaces.'"
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.