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 Mark 9:33-37:
While at home in Capernaum, Jesus asked his followers,
“What were you arguing about on our way here?”
They were too embarrassed to reply —
they had been arguing about greatness,
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus sat down and told them to gather around.
Then he spoke, “The highest place of honor
belongs to the lowest slave!”
Then Jesus called a child from the crowd,
placed his arm around the child, and said,
“When you welcome even a child because of me,
you welcome both me and the God who sent me.”
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 6:22-24:
Make sure your inner eyes are twenty-twenty!
Otherwise, your daylight will turn to darkness.
You can’t be a slave of two masters —
you will hate one and love the other.
Remember, God is a better master than money.
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 Luke 12:15-21:
Jesus stood up and warned the crowd, “Don’t be greedy!
Wealth won’t get you where you want to go.”
Then he told them this story:
“At harvest time a rich man had an abundant crop,
but he didn’t have enough room to store it all.
After thinking things over for a while,
he finally decided to tear down his old barns
and build super sized storage bins.
“Once I do this,” he smiled and said to himself,
“I’ll have enough set aside for years to come.”
So he decided to live his life to the max.
But as he celebrated, the voice of God thundered,
“Stupid fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?”
Jesus concluded by saying,
“This is what happens to people who pile up wealth
without weighing the thunderous judgment of God.”
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 Mark 1:9-11:
Jesus left his home in Nazareth, Galilee
and went to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
When Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky separate,
and the Spirit of God descend upon him like a dove.
A voice from heaven declared,
“I am pleased with you, my own dear Son!”
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 Luke 22:54-65:
Peter kept his distance after Jesus was arrested
and led away to the house of the high priest.
Some people were sitting around a fire
in the courtyard of the house, and Peter joined them.
“This man was with Jesus!” blurted out a servant girl.
“I don’t even know the guy!” insisted Peter.
“You’re one of them!” someone said with a smirk.
“Not me!” denied Peter.
An hour or so later, another man swore,
“This man was with Jesus—they’re both from Galilee.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
came Peter’s denial.
At that very moment, while Peter was still speaking,
he heard the sound of a rooster crowing.
The Lord looked in Peter’s direction,
and Peter remembered those solemn words,
“Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning,
you’ll say three times you don’t even know me.”
Peter left and wept bitterly.
Meanwhile, the guards insulted and struck Jesus.
They put a blindfold on him and sneered as they said,
“Tell us who hit you?”
And this was not the worst they did to him.
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 6:13-16:
For everyone on this earth, you and you alone are salt!
But if salt is no longer salty, it’s good only for gravel.
For everyone on this earth, you and you alone are light.
You are a city on top of a hill and cannot be hidden.
Only a fool would light a lamp and place it under a bucket
instead of on a lamp stand.
Keep your light shining! Let everyone see what you do,
so they will praise your Father above.
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 Mark 12:13-17:
Some theologians and politicians got together
and sent a committee to trick Jesus
into making a false statement.
“Teacher,” they said, “you’re absolutely honest,
you don’t show favoritism,
and you’re straight forward about God’s demands.
One small matter: Should we pay taxes to the government?”
Jesus knew what they were up to, so he replied
“Don’t try to play power politics with me!
Show me a coin of the state.”
They handed him a coin, and he asked,
“Whose face is on this coin?
What are these buildings?”
“It’s the face of our ruler,” they answered,
“and our national headquarters.”
“Then pay the government what you owe,” said Jesus,
“and give God what belongs to God.”
The entire committee stood there amazed.
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 6:25-34:
I tell you not to worry about food, drink, or clothes!
Life is more than what you eat and wear.
Birds don’t plant or harvest,
yet your Father above takes care of them,
and you are worth much more than a flock of birds.
You may think the more you worry, the longer you live.
That’s simply not so.
Why worry about what you will wear?
Even royalty looks drab beside daffodils and regal lilies,
yet God colors and clothes the wild flowers,
even though they will wither in the summer heat.
Why do you have such little faith? God will take care of you.
Worry — wearisome worry about food, drink, and clothes —
Only a heathen would nurture such worries.
Put God first in everything you do and worry no more,
then all your needs will be met.
Why worry about tomorrow? Today is worrisome enough.
