« | Job 41 | » |
1 "Can you catch Leviathan with a fishhook? Can you tie his tongue with a rope?
2 Can you put a rope through his nose or a hook through his jaw?
3 Will he beg you to let him go free? Will he speak to you with gentle words?
4 Will he make an agreement with you and promise to serve you forever?
5 Will you play with Leviathan as you would play with a bird? Will you put a rope on him so that your girls can play with him?
6 Will fishermen try to buy him from you? Will they cut him into pieces and sell him to the merchants?
7 Can you throw spears into his skin or head?
8 "If you ever lay a hand on Leviathan, you will never do it again! Just think about the battle that would be!
9 Do you think you can defeat him? Well, forget it! There is no hope. Just looking at him will scare you!
10 No one is brave enough to wake him up and make him angry. "Well, no one can challenge me either!
11 I owe nothing to anyone. Everything under heaven belongs to me.
12 "I will tell you about Leviathan's legs, his strength, and his graceful shape.
13 No one can pierce his skin. It is like armor!
14 No one can force him to open his jaws. The teeth in his mouth scare people.
15 His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together.
16 They are so close to each other that no air can pass between them.
17 The shields are joined to each other. They hold together so tightly that they cannot be pulled apart.
18 When Leviathan sneezes, it is like lightning flashing out. His eyes shine like the light of dawn.
19 Burning torches come from his mouth. Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke pours from his nose like burning weeds under a boiling pot.
21 His breath sets coals on fire, and flames shoot from his mouth.
22 His neck is very powerful. People are afraid and run away from him.
23 There is no soft spot in his skin. It is as hard as iron.
24 His heart is like a rock; he has no fear. It is as hard as a lower millstone.
25 When he gets up, even the strongest people are afraid. They run away when he swings his tail.
26 Swords, spears, and darts only bounce off when they hit him. These weapons don't hurt him at all!
27 He breaks iron as easily as straw. He breaks bronze like rotten wood.
28 Arrows don't make him run away. Rocks thrown at him seem as light as chaff.
29 When a wood club hits him, it feels to him like a piece of straw. He laughs when anyone throws a spear at him.
30 The skin on his belly is like sharp pieces of broken pottery. He leaves tracks in the mud like a threshing board.
31 He stirs up the water like a boiling pot. He makes it bubble like a pot of boiling oil.
32 When he swims, he leaves a sparkling path behind him. He stirs up the water and makes it white with foam.
33 No animal on earth is like him. He is an animal made without fear.
34 He looks down on the proudest of creatures. He is king over all the wild animals."
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.