« | Mark 3 | » |
1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue. In the synagogue there was a man with a crippled hand.
2 Some Jews there were watching Jesus closely. They were waiting to see if he would heal the man on a Sabbath day. They wanted to see Jesus do something wrong so that they could accuse him.
3 Jesus said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up here so that everyone can see you."
4 Then Jesus asked the people, "Which is the right thing to do on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil? Is it right to save a life or to destroy one?" The people said nothing to answer him.
5 Jesus looked at the people. He was angry, but he felt very sad because they were so stubborn. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand, and it was healed.
6 Then the Pharisees left and made plans with the Herodians about a way to kill Jesus.
7 Jesus went away with his followers to the lake. A large crowd of people from Galilee followed them.
8 Many also came from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from the area across the Jordan River, and from the area around Tyre and Sidon. These people came because they heard about all that Jesus was doing.
9 Jesus saw how many people there were, so he told his followers to get a small boat and make it ready for him. He wanted the boat so that the crowds of people could not push against him.
10 He had healed many of them, so all the sick people were pushing toward him to touch him.
11 Some people had evil spirits inside them. When the evil spirits saw Jesus, they bowed before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!"
12 But Jesus gave the spirits a strong warning not to tell anyone who he was.
13 Then Jesus went up on a hill and invited those he wanted to go with him. So they joined him there.
14 And he chose twelve men and called them apostles. He wanted these twelve men to be with him, and he wanted to send them to other places to tell people God's message.
15 He also wanted them to have the power to force demons out of people.
16 These are the names of the twelve men Jesus chose: Simon (the one Jesus named Peter),
17 James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee (the ones Jesus named Boanerges, which means "Sons of Thunder"),
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, the Zealot,
19 Judas Iscariot (the one who handed Jesus over to his enemies).
20 Then Jesus went home, but again a large crowd gathered there. There were so many people that he and his followers could not eat.
21 His family heard about all these things. They went to get him because people said he was crazy.
22 And the teachers of the law from Jerusalem said, "Satan is living inside him! He uses power from the ruler of demons to force demons out of people."
23 So Jesus called them together and talked to them using some stories. He said, "Satan will not force his own demons out of people.
24 A kingdom that fights against itself will not survive.
25 And a family that is divided will not survive.
26 If Satan is against himself and is fighting against his own people, he will not survive. That would be the end of Satan.
27 "Whoever wants to enter a strong man's house and steal his things must first tie him up. Then they can steal the things from his house.
28 "I want you to know that people can be forgiven for all the sinful things they do. They can even be forgiven for the bad things they say against God.
29 But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. They will always be guilty of that sin."
30 Jesus said this because the teachers of the law had accused him of having an evil spirit inside him.
31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers came. They stood outside and sent someone in to tell him to come out.
32 Many people were sitting around Jesus. They said to him, "Your mother and brothers are waiting for you outside."
33 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
34 Then he looked at the people sitting around him and said, "These people are my mother and my brothers!
35 My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants."
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.