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 7:24-29:

If you obey my teachings, you’re wise —
       you’ve built your house on solid rock.
Neither drenching rains, nor floods, nor hurricanes
       can shake that house from its solid foundation.

If you disobey my teachings, you’re foolish —
       you’ve built your house on shifting sands.
Drenching rains, floods, or hurricanes can shake that house,
       and it will collapse with a loud crash.

Jesus surprised everyone by teaching with such authority
as they had never witnessed before —
       not even from the most renowned biblical scholars!