« | Lamentations 3 | » |
1 I am a man who has seen much trouble. The Lord beat us with a stick, and I saw it happen.
2 He led and brought me into darkness, not light.
3 He turned his hand against me. He did this again and again, all day.
4 He wore out my flesh and skin. He broke my bones.
5 He built up bitterness and trouble against me. He surrounded me with bitterness and trouble.
6 He put me in the dark, like someone who died long ago.
7 He shut me in, so I could not get out. He put heavy chains on me.
8 Even when I cry out and ask for help, he does not listen to my prayer.
9 He has blocked up my path with stones. He has made my path crooked.
10 He is like a bear about to attack me, like a lion that is in a hiding place.
11 He led me off my path. He tore me to pieces and ruined me.
12 He made his bow ready. He made me the target for his arrows.
13 He shot me in the stomach with his arrows.
14 I have become a joke to all my people. All day long they sing songs about me and make fun of me.
15 The Lord gave me this poison to drink. He filled me with this bitter drink.
16 He pushed my teeth into rocky ground. He pushed me into the dirt.
17 I thought I would never have peace again. I forgot about good things.
18 I said to myself, "I no longer have any hope that the Lord will help me."
19 Lord, remember, I am very sad, and I have no home. Remember the bitter poison that you gave me.
20 I remember well all my troubles, and I am very sad.
21 But then I think about this, and I have hope:
22 We are still alive because the Lord's faithful love never ends.
23 Every morning he shows it in new ways! Lord, you are so very true and loyal!
24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my God, and I trust him."
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him.
26 It is good to wait quietly for the Lord to save them.
27 It is good for a man to wear his yoke from the time he is young.
28 He should sit alone and be quiet when the Lord puts his yoke on him.
29 He should bow down to the Lord. Maybe there is still hope.
30 He should turn his cheek to the one who hits him and let people insult him.
31 He should remember that the Lord does not reject people forever.
32 When the Lord punishes, he also has mercy. He has mercy because of his great love and kindness.
33 The Lord does not enjoy causing people pain. He does not like to make anyone unhappy.
34 He does not like any prisoner on earth to be trampled down.
35 He does not like anyone to be unfair to another person. Some people will do such things right in front of God Most High.
36 He does not like anyone to cheat another person. He does not like any of these things.
37 No one can say something and make it happen, unless the Lord orders it.
38 God Most High commands both good and bad things to happen.
39 No one alive can complain when the Lord punishes them for their sins.
40 Let us check and see what we have done. Then let us turn back to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to the God of heaven.
42 Let us say to him, "We have sinned and have been stubborn. Because of this, you have not forgiven us.
43 You wrapped yourself with anger. You chased us. You killed us without mercy!
44 You wrapped yourself in a cloud. You did that so that no prayer could get through.
45 You made us like garbage and dirt to the other nations.
46 All of our enemies speak angrily against us.
47 We have been frightened. We have fallen into a pit. We have been badly hurt. We have been broken."
48 My eyes flow with streams of tears. I cry because of the destruction of my people.
49 My eyes will flow without stopping. I will keep on crying.
50 I will continue to cry until you look down and see us, Lord! I will continue to cry until you see us from heaven.
51 My eyes make me sad, when I see what happened to the young women in my city.
52 For no reason, my enemies hunted me like a bird.
53 They threw me alive into a pit and then threw stones at me.
54 Water came up over my head. I said to myself, "I am finished."
55 Lord, I called your name from the bottom of the pit.
56 You heard my voice. You didn't close your ears. You didn't refuse to rescue me.
57 You came to me on the day that I called out to you. You said to me, "Don't be afraid."
58 You defended me and bought me back to life.
59 Lord, you have seen my trouble. Now judge my case for me.
60 You have seen how my enemies have hurt me. You have seen all the evil plans that they made against me.
61 You heard them insult me, Lord. You have heard all the evil plans that they made against me.
62 The words and the thoughts of my enemies are against me all the time—
63 when they sit down and when they stand up. Look how they make fun of me!
64 Give them back what they deserve, Lord. Pay them back for what they have done.
65 Make them stubborn and then curse them.
66 Chase them in anger and destroy them. Wipe them off the face of the earth, Lord!
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.