« | Leviticus 18 | » |
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 "Tell the Israelites: I am the Lord your God.
3 You must not follow the customs of Egypt where you lived, and you must not follow the customs of the Canaanites where I am leading you. You must not live like they do.
4 You must obey my rules and follow my laws. Be sure to follow my rules because I am the Lord your God.
5 You must obey my rules and my laws, because whoever obeys them will live. I am the Lord.
6 "You must never have sexual relations with your close relatives. I am the Lord.
7 "You must never have sexual relations with your father or mother. She is your mother, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
8 You must not have sexual relations with your father's wife, even if she is not your mother, because that is like having sexual relations with your father.
9 "You must not have sexual relations with your sister. It doesn't matter if she is the daughter of your father or your mother. And it doesn't matter if your sister was born in your house or at some other place.
10 "You must not have sexual relations with your granddaughter. It doesn't matter whether she is the daughter of your son or the daughter of your daughter—they are all a part of you!
11 "If your father and his wife have a daughter, she is your sister. You must not have sexual relations with her.
12 "You must not have sexual relations with your father's sister. She is your father's close relative.
13 You must not have sexual relations with your mother's sister. She is your mother's close relative.
14 You must not have sexual relations with the wife of your father's brother. You must not go near your uncle's wife for sexual relations. She is your aunt.
15 "You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her.
16 "You must not have sexual relations with your brother's wife. That would be like having sexual relations with your brother.
17 "You must not have sexual relations with a mother and her daughter or her granddaughter. It doesn't matter if this granddaughter is the daughter of this woman's son or daughter. Her granddaughters are her close relatives. It is wrong to do this.
18 "While your wife is still living, you must not take her sister as another wife. This will make the sisters become enemies. You must not have sexual relations with your wife's sister.
19 "You must not go near a woman to have sexual relations with her during her monthly time of bleeding. She is unclean during this time.
20 "You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife. This will only make you filthy.
21 "You must not give any of your children through the fire to Molech. If you do this, you will show that you don't respect the name of your God. I am the Lord.
22 "Men, you must not have sexual relations with another man as with a woman. That is a terrible sin!
23 "Men, you must not have sexual relations with any animal. This will make you filthy. And women, you must not have sexual relations with any animal. It is against nature!
24 "Don't make yourself unclean with anything wrong like that! I am throwing nations off their land and giving it to you because they did those terrible sins.
25 They made the land filthy. Now the land is sick of those things, and it will vomit out the people who live there.
26 "So you must obey my laws and rules. You must not do any of these terrible sins. These rules are for the citizens of Israel and the people living among you.
27 Those who lived in the land before you have done all these terrible things. So the land became filthy.
28 If you do these things, you will make the land filthy. And it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were there before you.
29 Whoever does any of these terrible sins must be separated from their people!
30 Other people have done these terrible sins, but you must obey my laws. You must not do any of these terrible sins. Do not make yourself filthy with these terrible sins. I am the Lord your God."
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.