« | Genesis 9 | » |
1 God said to Noah and his sons: I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth.
2 All animals, birds, reptiles, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them under your control,
3 and I have given them to you for food. From now on, you may eat them, as well as the green plants that you have always eaten.
4 But life is in the blood, and you must not eat any meat that still has blood in it.
5 I created humans to be like me, and I will punish any animal or person that takes a human life. If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. And if a person takes the life of another, that person must be put to death.
6 (SEE 9:5)
7 I want you and your descendants to have many children, so people will live everywhere on earth.
8 Again, God said to Noah and his sons:
9 I am going to make a solemn promise to you and to everyone who will live after you.
10 This includes the birds and the animals that came out of the boat.
11 I promise every living creature that the earth and those living on it will never again be destroyed by a flood.
12 The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.
13 (SEE 9:12)
14 When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky,
15 I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life.
16 When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will always remember the promise that I have made to every living creature.
17 The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise.
18 Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, came out of the boat. Ham later had a son named Canaan.
19 All people on earth are descendants of Noah's three sons.
20 Noah farmed the land and was the first to plant a vineyard.
21 One day he got drunk and was lying naked in his tent.
22 Ham entered the tent and saw him naked, then went back outside and told his brothers.
23 Shem and Japheth put a robe over their shoulders and walked backwards into the tent. Without looking at their father, they placed it over his body.
24 When Noah woke up and learned what his youngest son had done,
25 he said, "I now put a curse on Canaan! He will be the lowest slave of his brothers.
26 I ask the LORD my God to bless Shem and make Canaan his slave.
27 I pray that the LORD will give Japheth more and more land and let him take over the territory of Shem. May Canaan be his slave."
28 Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood
29 and died at the age of nine hundred fifty.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.