« | Matthew 7 | » |
1 "Don't judge others, and God will not judge you.
2 If you judge others, you will be judged the same way you judge them. God will treat you the same way you treat others.
3 "Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood that is in your own?
4 Why do you say to your friend, 'Let me take that piece of dust out of your eye'? Look at yourself first! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye.
5 What a hypocrite you are! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.
6 "Don't give something that is holy to dogs. They will only turn and hurt you. And don't throw your pearls to pigs. They will only step on them.
7 "Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.
8 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.
9 "Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock?
10 Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not!
11 You people are so bad, but you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.
12 "Do for others what you would want them to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.
13 "You can enter true life only through the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the road that leads there. Many people go that way.
14 But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.
15 "Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look gentle like sheep. But they are really dangerous like wolves.
16 You will know these people because of what they do. Good things don't come from people who are bad, just as grapes don't come from thornbushes, and figs don't come from thorny weeds.
17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 You will know these false people by what they do.
21 "Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God's kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.
22 On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. '
23 Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Get away from me, you people who do wrong. I never knew you.'
24 "Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.
25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock.
26 "Whoever hears these teachings of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a loud crash."
28 When Jesus finished speaking, the people were amazed at his teaching.
29 He did not teach like their teachers of the law. He taught like someone who has authority.
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.