I have a CEV which to my knowledge is a Paraphrased translation. I understand that Paraphrases aren't always as accurate as our Heavy hitters such as the KJV or the NASB but tried to be more readable but as I was reading Esther I thought I would read it in this version to see if new light or a different prespective could be seen.
As I read I noticed some difference even from the NLT that also is a paraphrase, there are some changes to not necessarily major plots of the story but if someone based their studies soley on this version as a new Christian may do they would be lead slightly astray.
CEV Esther 1:5 "King Xerxes soon gave another dinner and invited everyone in the city of Susa, no matter who they were. The eating and drinking lasted seven days in the beautiful palace gardens."
NLT Esther 1:5 "When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden."
The CEV leads one to believe Xerxes threw a party for the whole town of Susa, which just wasn't the case, the party was only for those in the Palace meaning the High Officials and top political figures would be at this party.
CEV Esther 2:5-6 "At this time a Jew named Mordecai was living in Susa. His father was Jair, and his grandfather Shimei was the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. Kish was one of the people that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem, when he took King Jeconiah of Judah to Babylonia."
NASB Esther 2:5-6 "Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was (A)Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled."
The CEV say that Kish (the father of Saul) was taken into Exile which is an absolute impossiblity scripturally and historically. The passage is obviously speaking about Mordecai, I will say it does note in the bottom this passage may or may not be talking about Mordecai. To me this is just laziness on behalf of the translators. I have only read to chapter 2 and have found these two things, and while I generally don't nit pick a translations and am usually pretty open to even paraphrases I must admit I was disappointed in this translation.
I don't write this to start a long debate over which translation is the best or more accurate but I believe you should use the translation that is easiest for you to understand but is at the same time accurate to the original idea of the text. Personally now I wouldn't recommend the CEV unless I know the person intends to read it only for reference or a different prespective.
God Bless,
Matthew