« | Numbers 23 | » |
1 Balaam said, "Build seven altars here. And prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
2 Balak did what that Balaam asked. Then Balak and Balaam killed a ram and a bull on each of the altars.
3 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here near this altar. I will go to another place. Then the Lord will come to me, and he will tell me what I must say." Then Balaam went away to a higher place.
4 God came to Balaam at that place, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars. And I have killed a bull and a ram as a sacrifice on each altar."
5 Then the Lord told Balaam what he should say. Then the Lord said, "Go back to Balak and say the things that I have given you to say."
6 So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak was still standing near the altar, and all the leaders of Moab were standing there with them.
7 Then Balaam said this: Balak, the king of Moab, brought me here from the eastern mountains of Aram. Balak said to me, "Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, speak against the Israelites."
8 But God is not against them, so I cannot speak against them either! The Lord has not asked for bad things to happen to these people. So I cannot do that either.
9 I see these people from the mountain. I see them from the high hills. They live alone. They are not part of another nation.
10 Who can count Jacob's people? They are as many as the grains of dust. No one can count even a fourth of the Israelites. Let me die like a good man. Let my life end as happy as theirs!
11 Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them!"
12 But Balaam answered, "I must say the things that the Lord tells me to say."
13 Then Balak said to him, "So come with me to another place. At that place you can see more of these people. You cannot see all of them—you can only see part of them. Maybe from that place you can curse them for me."
14 So Balak led Balaam to Watchmen Hills. This was on top of Mount Pisgah. There Balak built seven altars and killed a bull and a ram on each altar as a sacrifice.
15 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here by this altar while I will go meet with God over there."
16 So the Lord came to Balaam and told Balaam what to say. Then he told Balaam to go back to Balak and say these things.
17 So Balaam went to Balak. Balak was still standing near the altar. The leaders of Moab were there with him. Balak saw Balaam coming and said, "What did the Lord say?"
18 Then Balaam said this: "Stand up, Balak, and listen to me. Hear me, Balak son of Zippor.
19 God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.
20 He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that.
21 God saw no wrong in Jacob's people. He saw no sin in the Israelites. The Lord is their God, and he is with them. The Great King is with them!
22 God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox.
23 There is no power that can defeat the people of Jacob. There is no magic that can stop the Israelites. People will say this about Jacob and the Israelites: 'Look at the great things God did!'
24 The people are as strong as lions, and they fight like lions. And a lion will not rest until it eats what it has caught, until it drinks the blood of what it has killed."
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "You didn't ask for good things to happen to these people, but you didn't ask for bad things to happen to them either!"
26 Balaam answered, "I told you before that I can only say what the Lord tells me to say."
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "So come with me to another place. Maybe God will be pleased and will allow you to curse them from that place."
28 So Balak led Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which looks out over the desert.
29 Balaam said, "Build seven altars here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams for the altars."
30 Balak did what Balaam asked. Balak offered the bulls and rams on the altars.
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.