Help me choose 4 new bibles

Markus6 said:

Following a number of threads about bible translations I thought I'd jump in but with a slight twist. I recently bought myself some new bible software (Accordance) and as part of the package I can choose 4 bibles to unlock. The software came with the following translations (so I already have them):
ASV - American Standard Version
BBE - Bible in Basic English
BISHOP - Bishop's Bible
DOUAY - Douay-Rheims Bible
DRBY - Darby Version
ESVS - English Standard Version with Strong's
GENEVA - Geneva Bible
KJVS - King James Version with Strong's Numbers
NAS95S - New American Standard 1995 Update with Strong's
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NET - New English Translation Bible
NLT-SE - New Living Translation Second Edition
WEB - World English Bible
WEBSTR -Webster Bible
WEYMTH - Weymouth New Testament
YNG - Young's Version
I also have an actual physical parallel of the KJV, NIV, NLT and NASB as well as just a standard NIV.

My choices are between:
AMP - Amplified Bible
CEV - Contemporary English Version
CJB - Complete Jewish Bible with Notes
GWORD - GOD'S WORD with Notes
HCSB - Holman Christian Standard Bible
JPS - Tanakh-Jewish Publication Society
MESSAGE - The Message
NAB - New American Bible
NIV - New International Version with footnotes
NJB - New Jerusalem Bible
NKJV - New King James Version
NRSV - New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha
REB - Revised English Bible
RSV - Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha
SB - Schocken Bible: The Five Books of Moses
TEV - Today's English Version
TNIV - Today's New International Version and Notes

A bit more information:
My pastor tends to use a number of translations but has a definite penchant for the TEV.
I tend to prefer literal translations but I'm also interested in having lots of diversity and different opinions. If any of the bibles are the main bible for a particular group (e.g. I've heard the HCSB is becoming the standard for the SBC) then that certainly sparks more interest for me.

I did want to include a poll but there are more than 10 options. If you post your top 4 I'll compile the results myself. However, I think I'll mostly be basing my decision on any opinions and information given. Feel free to ask any more questions if you feel it'll help your answer.

I really appreciate your help.

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Markus6 said:

I was weak. I ended up getting 8. Here they are an why:
TNIV - With the popularity of the NIV I wanted to be able to manipulate the text with accordance. Having two physical copies of the original I decided to go with the update. The inclusive language may be a distraction for some but the other corrections and updates make it worth having I think.
HCSB - I've read very good things about this translation. I'm currently an NASB man but I have hopes this could become my main bible, especially as it's a little more accessible and readable than the NASB.
TEV - The version I grew up with and a favourite of my pastor.
REB - Beautiful English, inspired use of the comma and it's in proper English (i.e. British English but a little bit of me dies everytime I use that phrase).
NRSV - Another take on the RSV that compliments the ESV nicely. Also another view of the apocrypha.
NJB - A Catholic perspective, superior to the NAB and some use of "Yahweh" that I really like.
CJB - A revision of the JPS Tanakh with a Messianic Jewish view of the NT. I'm very interested in being able to see the Hebrew names.
SB - Beautiful poetry aiming to capture the art of the original Hebrew Torah. Will compliment nicely my less than completely literal view of some of these books.

I think it's fair to say that, with the bible I already had, I now have an awesome collection. I also bought some bible maps, pictures and a timeline at the same time. I think it's time to quit engineering and go into theology now!

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SummaScriptura said:

Question about the AV of 1901, is that the one that inserts "Jehovah" in the O.T. as substitute for "LORD"?

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barryrob said:

There is a lot more than that:-

Deut 6:4
(ASV) Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:

(Darby) Hear, Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah;

(KJV+) Hear,H8085 O Israel:H3478 The LORDH3068 our GodH430 is oneH259 LORD:H3068

Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary No. 3068 יהוה yehôvâh yeh-ho-vaw' From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069.


(Modern KJV) Hear, O, Israel. Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.

(NSB) »Listen, Israel! JEHOVAH OUR GOD IS ONE GOD!

(YLT) `Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah;


The N.I.V. Interliner of the O.T. has "Yahweh" from stat to finish.

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wildboar said:

Yes the ASV is probably the most mainstream Bible that consistently uses "Jehovah." It's actually a pretty good translation. As I do my own translation work its on the list of ones that I check my own translation against. Star Publishers still publishes a printed version of the ASV with some goofy stuff of their own in the back.

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SummaScriptura said:

Barry, you are missing the point of my question. Yes, there are translations that use the word "Jehovah", but they do not all employ its use uniformly. I believe the ASV of 1901 emplys it throughout the O.T. and am enquiring if this is the case. If you do not know that's fine, but your post does not further my knowledge in this regard.

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SummaScriptura said:

By the way, Barry, it might come as a bit of surprise to you, the NWT is one of the translations that uses the word "Jehovah" inconsistantly.

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