Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 5:33-37:

You know what the Bible teaches about promises —
       “Don’t make a promise in the Lord’s name,
              unless you intend to keep it!”

But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise —
       not by heaven — it’s God’s throne,
       not by the earth — it’s God’s footstool,
not by Jerusalem — it’s the city of the great king,
not by your own head — you can’t grow white or black hairs at will.

When you make a promise, just give your word!
       Anything else comes from the devil.