Preferred translations

MMDave3 · Jul 16, 2018

Hello all,

I think this is the best forum to post this question in, and if it's not, my apologies to the moderators.
I have read both the KJV and NRSV translations of the Bible (in that order) and I wish to find other translations that would be good to read as well. I guess you could say I'm trying to get a more comprehensive understanding of the Bible, and it seems that while the foundation is the same, differing translations might shed light on different parts in different ways. I gather from other posts on these forums that there is a bit of contention over preferred translations, and I understand that completely. That said, and given the two versions I've read, what would you folks recommend be the next translation to read? Or do you suppose it's even necessary? I know the KJV is the go-to for many people; it's beautiful. The NRSV is also popular, and I really love it too, as it cleared a lot of stuff up for me.

faroukfarouk · Jul 16, 2018

I do appreciate the King James and use it a lot.

HTacianas · Jul 16, 2018

The KJV is perhaps my least favorite. The translators lacked the resources for a comprehensive translation, so ended up with things like the cockathrice here and there.

The NIV is perhaps the easiest to read, so that would be a good choice. The New American Bible is available at the Vatican website. You'll find the footnotes helpful, even though I don't agree with a few of them.

Clint Edwards · Jul 16, 2018

MMDave3 said:
Hello all,

I think this is the best forum to post this question in, and if it's not, my apologies to the moderators.
I have read both the KJV and NRSV translations of the Bible (in that order) and I wish to find other translations that would be good to read as well. I guess you could say I'm trying to get a more comprehensive understanding of the Bible, and it seems that while the foundation is the same, differing translations might shed light on different parts in different ways. I gather from other posts on these forums that there is a bit of contention over preferred translations, and I understand that completely. That said, and given the two versions I've read, what would you folks recommend be the next translation to read? Or do you suppose it's even necessary? I know the KJV is the go-to for many people; it's beautiful. The NRSV is also popular, and I really love it too, as it cleared a lot of stuff up for me.

NKJV, New English, paraphrases like The Message can be very useful when used with a translation. I have 8 different translations, and compare each on difficult passages. Start a collection !

s

MMDave3 · Jul 16, 2018

Clint Edwards said:
NKJV, New English, paraphrases like The Message can be very useful when used with a translation. I have 8 different translations, and compare each on difficult passages. Start a collection !

s

Funny you mention starting a collection, that thought was running through my head earlier tonight.

TuxAme · Jul 16, 2018

The RSVCE is my translation of choice, but I also use the NABRE.

Stringfellow_Hawke · Jul 16, 2018

KJV is my translation. I refer to the NIV 84 and NLT on occasion for clarification. My wife uses the nkjv. I’ve had and looked over several translations and I ultimately went with the KJV for a few reasons. I was raised on it. I’m comfortable with it, and the best part, is in its 400+ year existence, it’s only been revised three times. That works for me.

JAM2b · Jul 16, 2018

My favorite is the New American Standard Bible. I find some words in King James Version humorous, and other parts frustrating and stressful because of the language. It's hard for me to keep a straight face, or stay motivated to continue when reading it. Seriously, that's not our language anymore. It feels disingenuous to quote Scripture in that translation. None of us talk like that. As poetry, it sounds pretty and fancy, but I just can't rely on it as my source of Scripture. If I want a quick, easy Scripture read, I go to NIV, but I don't like NIV for serious Bible study.

That being said, I will read almost any translation, and I like to compare several. I refuse to read the Message; it's not a Bible, it's a paraphrase of the Bible.

JAM2b · Jul 16, 2018

MMDave3 said:
Funny you mention starting a collection, that thought was running through my head earlier tonight.

You can purchase parallel Bibles with more than one translation side by side on the pages. I enjoy these. Also, if you are using a Bible source online, many of them offer a view of Scripture in a parallel format and you can select which ones you can see next to each other.

Radagast · Jul 17, 2018

My top 3 would be ESV, NIV, and CSB.

MMDave3 · Jul 17, 2018

Thank you everyone for the replies. There are so many choices.

Dave-W · Jul 17, 2018

The NASB has been my go-to translation for almost 45 years. It is the most literal one on the market aside from an interlinear.

faroukfarouk · Jul 22, 2018

JAM2b said:
You can purchase parallel Bibles with more than one translation side by side on the pages. I enjoy these. Also, if you are using a Bible source online, many of them offer a view of Scripture in a parallel format and you can select which ones you can see next to each other.

I do like the KJ21 as well as the King James; the KJ21 has a clear format; and some of the archaic words have been modernized.

KJ21 is put out by 21st Century King James Publishers, Gary, SD.

faroukfarouk · Jul 22, 2018

Dave-W said:
The NASB has been my go-to translation for almost 45 years. It is the most literal one on the market aside from an interlinear.

Yes, the NASB's literalism is well known as one of its strengths.

faroukfarouk · Jul 24, 2018

JAM2b said:
You can purchase parallel Bibles with more than one translation side by side on the pages. I enjoy these.

PS:
I think parallel Bibles can be good for private study.

Years ago I once tried to do a public reading from an interlinear version of the Bible and it was confusing on the eyes.

Anto9us · Jul 25, 2018

I have a parallel Bible - four translations side by side - KJV, Modern Language Bible, Living Bible and RSV.

The Guideposts Parallel Bible.

Anto9us · Jul 25, 2018

A Bible I got many years ago and still use some is The New Jerusalem Bible. Notes from Catholic scholars, and a feature I have never seen in any other Bible:

In the New Testament, whenever an OT passage is quoted, paraphrased or even alluded to -- the words are in italics. Makes it really stand out how much OT is referred to in NT>

faroukfarouk · Jul 26, 2018

JAM2b said:
You can purchase parallel Bibles with more than one translation side by side on the pages. I enjoy these. Also, if you are using a Bible source online, many of them offer a view of Scripture in a parallel format and you can select which ones you can see next to each other.

PS: FYI, Gideons did parallel English and Spanish NTs. Good if you're learning a language.

JAM2b · Jul 27, 2018

faroukfarouk said:
PS: FYI, Gideons did parallel English and Spanish NTs. Good if you're learning a language.

That's awesome to know! I had quite a bit of Spanish throughout school and at one time had the goal of becoming bi-lingual. That fell by the wayside as life got complicated. I've been thinking about trying it again, and though that I would get get a Spanish Bible. I had no idea there had been an English/Spanish Parallel Bible printed.

MMDave3 · Aug 10, 2018

So I have downloaded a Bible app for my phone made by "YouVersion". It has a variety of translations, and you can set it up to compare verses between translations. It's really pretty interesting! It gives you the quote of the day in the KJV, so I have it set up to compare that with the NASB, NRSV, and NIV. The one thing I'm noticing that's especially interesting is how similar the NASB and NRSV are. Oftentimes they are almost identical with only a couple words in different order. The NIV is the odd man out of the three contemporary translations I am contrasting, it uses some completely different words at times. I'm not picking on that one, it's just interesting to see what the translators came up with. I'd recommend this app to everyone, it's certainly quicker than sitting down with multiple hard copies to do comparisons.

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