Douay-Rheims

[kern]

I came across a site that claimed the Douay-Rheims bible was the best one to read in English. They didn't give any reasons (you had to buy a book to learn about the reasons). This sounds a lot like a Catholic version of KJV-onlyism.

Does the Church have any official position on what is the "best" Bible version? I know there is the NAB (I think I have a battered copy of that from CCD ) as well...

-Chris

 

[Annabel Lee]

I have both Douay-Rheims Bible and the New American Bible.
(Just recently bought the NAB)
They are both approved by the Catholic Church..others are also.
My favorite is the Douay-Rheims. The language is beautiful and very poetic.
I firmly believe that when bibles are updated and modernized something gets lost in the translation.

Here is a Douay-Rheims Bible site..
http://www.scriptours.com/bible/

Peace,
Annabel

 

[Anise]

Chris,

Some Catholics prefer to read the DR. But there is no offical perfect English version for an American Catholic to read. A Catholic might choose to read the RSV-CE or one of the versions of the NAB or the Jerusalem Bible or whatever. For what is read during mass, there are official translations that are read. I'm not sure, but I think usually you'll hear something close to the older version of the NAB (there are newer versions). But if someone is reciting the daily office, I don't think the psalms are from that version. Maybe the "grail" version or something like that. I'd have to look it up for sure.

You are probably thinking of the booklet by TAN Books. It is free, if you are willing to read it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Try going to www.tanbooks.com and finding the link for Which bible should you read, then once there click on the link for the pdf format. It will take awhile to appear if you are on a modem. I'm not saying I endorse the pamphlet.

 

[jukesk9]

Here's my list of Bibles that I own....

St. Joseph Edition (which I think the OT is the DR and the NT is like the KJV--it's from like the late 50s. It was my father's Bible. Like the KJV, it's kind of a tough read.)

Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition (probably my favorite Catholic Bible. Keeps the thees, thous, etc. but updates other areas. I love the respect and formality of using thee, thou, etc.)

New American Bible (I'm not sure how much I like this Bible. It's pretty worn out from my reading it, though. I just like the formality of the RSV compared to the modern language of the NAB).

New American Standard Bible (Yes, a Protestant Bible. I think this is an excellent translation and like it almost as much as my RSV).