Looking for a second Bible

[fieldmouse3]

HI, everyone.

I've had an NIV for years, which I love. However, I've been thinking of getting a second one in a different version. The idea is, whenever I find a verse that strikes me, I want to be able to look at a different version to see how it translates there. This is where you guys come in....what version of the Bible do you use, and what do you like about it? Can you describe how it compares to other versions in terms of translation/simplicity/ ect? I'm not looking for a study Bible with lots of extras...just one that's not an NIV. Also, I don't want this to turn into a debate about which version is "right" or "wrong." I just want the facts. Thanks!

 

[Addaperle]

I like the New Jerusalem Bible... I find it a very good translation, pretty easy to understand and... well, I just like it. I find God speaks to me easiest through this version, though I don't know why... could just be me...

Clare xx

 

[kimber1]

i use the New King James Version myself. it leaves out all the thees and thous that have always confused me!

 

[Papist]

I like the New RSV. I used to like the old RSV. It always seemed to be the most accurate version, without losing the poetry. It also indicates alternative translations, unlike the NIV, which I never really did like.

I love the old KJV for its poetry and the fact that it is such a careful translation.

As a Catholic, I should like the New Jerusalem ... but it seems rather bland.

 

[Bruno]

I use KJV, NKJV, NIV and NASB most often. My favorites are NKJV (New King James Version) and NASB (New American Standard Bible).

The best study Bible I have read so far is Nelson NKJV. I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone who is serious about their Bible study. My next purchase is a MacArthur study Bible, which I heard is very good.

 

[JohnR7]

HI, everyone.

I've had an NIV for years, which I love. However, I've been thinking of getting a second one in a different version.

I am in a KJV only church. But I really like the NKJV. It is poetic as the English Language is intended to be. It is easy to understand. And it is one of the most accurate translations.

 

[The Midge]

I have been raised on the NIV too. It is in a class of translations that try to ballance literal word for word with praraphrasing to give the true sense of what is being said in English that flows. I now regularly refer to 3 or 4 translations. I use NIV and NRSV to couunter each other out (the former has an evangelical bias the latter is more catholic. I also like to start a study by reading the passage in the Message too get a fresh feel for it in a very free paraphrase. I also like to compare with a more literal translation such as one of the KJV's (Mostly on line!).

Use of a second translation depends on if you want something more literal, understandable every day English or does the same but gives you a different slant.

You could get one of those Bible study programmes which does the lot!

 

[Woodsy]

I don't like the gender-inclusive language of the NRSV. Just about every page has a footnote explaining that they changed "he" to "he or she," or "brothers" to "brothers and sisters."

I love the NASB, though.

 

[ZiSunka]

New Living Translation, God's Word to the Nations and Williams NT are my favorites!

 

[fieldmouse3]

Thanks, guys...I think I'll make a list of the versions mentioned, head to a bookstore, and start comparing!

 

[seangoh]

I grew up with an NIV bible right until young adulthood. The next bible i bought was NIV too but i rarely use it. And the next one i decided to get a KJV version. I've had it for about a year now and i must tell you that it's compact and i can bring it around easily and it has a magnetic clipon wraparound so you can be sure that the bible doesn't open up when it's in the bag.

Aside from the practical aspects of the one i have, i'm aware some other bibles are similar too. Initially when i read the KJV, it was totally unfamiliar and i had problem understanding it. I came across words like "preadventure" and sentences that seem to go haywire. This was when my NIV bibles came in handy you see. I'll read the KJV and then the NIV and i found that "preadventure" meant "if" in modern english. Of course i found other old english that can correlate to modern english and gradually reading the KJV has been exciting and fun to do.

And to further improve my "old english", i made it a point not to use the NIV unless really necessary. So what results was the reading and re-reading of passages from the KJV to try to figure out what it's saying. And it's really exciting because from a single chapter alone, i can find abit of "revelation" from the first read and some more "revelation" in the next and the next. So that's for me..i love MY KJV bible coz it's compact and it's fun to read.

I know all this sounds more like a testimony. ..oh yeah, i guess another factor would be to be "bilingual"..coz once i'm fluent with NIV and KJV, i should be able to read the common bibles and talk with ppl and understand what they're saying when they quote texts.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

For the purpose you have described, the RSV and NRSV are good. The NAS the least dynamic that I know of and literal accuracy is the focus of that translation. I've got a Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible in NAS that I like. I haven't read the New Jerusalem Bible or the New American Bible but would like to see them.
I'd go with an NAS. They have an updated version which modernizes the pronouns so you don't have to read thee and thy if that bugs you.

 

[Woodsy]

What is funny is that, like many poeple I guess, I love the KJV for its majestic language...
But when the KJV was first published, people complained because the language sounded too "common" - it was the way everyone spoke, so I guess it was that era's version of the NLT or something!

 

[Reader Nilus]

Bible Gateway Bible Gateway has various translations online.
The New English Translation is online, and its textual notes are worth the price of the Bible by themselves. For a second translation I would highly recommend it.
For Bibles with the Apocrypha I would recommend the RSV in the New Oxford Annotated with Expanded Apocrypha. The English Revised Bible, The New American Bible and The New Jerusalem Bible are also very good, and you would not go wrong by getting them.
Jeff the Finn

 

[honeylight]

For most reading, devotional and otherwise, I use the NIV. I also like the NASB Greek/Hebrew Key Word Study Bible. One drawback is the author's notes which I find to be off-base. Having the original language hand is cool.

Third choice (I have LOTS of Bibles) would be the Nelson New King James Study Bible.

 

[fieldmouse3]

I ended up with a New Living Translation...I read my favorite verses in a whole bunch of different versions, and this one seemed to work the best for me. Thanks for all the advice, guys!

 

[God_follower]

the message is a good translation

 

[fieldmouse3]

I've heard a lot of good things about the message....maybe I'll consider that when I get a THIRD Bible!

 

[Athlon4all]

I would recommend NASB, KJV, NKJV, or Amplified. These are the only 4 versions that I use, and my main Bible is KJV

 

[GodBoy809]

ok, first, i must say...New living and The Message..arent translations. I'm not putting them down, in fact i like the New Living Bible, i use it all the time...they're paraprahes from the KJV. Which, i think, makes them unquie. Also NASB is good.