« | Job 14 | » |
1 "We are all human beings. Our life is short and full of trouble.
2 Our life is like a flower. It grows quickly and then dies away. Our life is like a shadow that is here for a short time and then is gone.
3 God, do you need to keep an eye on something so small? Why bother to bring charges against me?
4 "No one can make something clean from something so dirty.
5 The length of our life has been decided. You alone know how long that is. You have set the limits for us and nothing can change them.
6 So stop watching us. Leave us alone. Let us enjoy this hard life until, like hired workers, we have put in our time.
7 "There is always hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it can grow again. It will keep sending out new branches.
8 Its roots might grow old in the ground and its stump die in the dirt,
9 but with water, it will grow again. It will grow branches like a new plant.
10 But when a man dies, he becomes weak and sick, and then he is gone!
11 Like a lake that goes dry or a river that loses its source,
12 so people lose their lives, never to live again. The skies will all pass away before they rise from death. The skies will all disappear before anyone wakes up from that sleep!
13 "I wish you would hide me in my grave. I wish you would hide me there, until your anger is gone. Then you could pick a time to remember me.
14 If a man dies, will he live again? If so, I would gladly suffer through this time waiting for my release.
15 God, you would call me, and I would answer you. Then I, the one you made, would be important to you.
16 You would still watch every step I take, but you would not remember my sins.
17 It would be as if you had sealed my sins in a bag. It would be as if you had covered my guilt with plaster.
18 "Mountains fall and crumble away. Large rocks break loose and fall.
19 Water flowing over stones wears them down. Floods wash away the soil on the ground. In the same way, God, you destroy the hope people have.
20 You defeat them completely and then they are gone. You change the way they look and send them away forever to the place of death.
21 If their sons are honored, they will never know it. If their sons do wrong, they will never see it.
22 They only feel the pain in their bodies, and they alone cry for themselves."
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.