Catholic Bibles. NJB, NAB, or NRSV?

[atassina]

Make it simple. Go to the nearest Catholic book store. Choose a Catholic bible that you like to hold in your hand, a bible that has an appealing
size,
color,
feel,
cover,
paper texture,
corners (round or square),
print size.

Read it until the cover falls off, the binding breaks and the pages start to fall out. When you get advanced enough to worry about the translation you will buy a dozen bible translations and lots of bible software. Until then, read one that appeals to you.

 

[peregrinus_sg]

As for the inclusive language in the NRSV, it can at times be annoying. However, the key point is that they included the textual notes, showing when they used inclusive language. Thes textual notes are printed in every edition of the NRSV and in many ways are an integral part of the translation itself. These textual notes are not only limited to inclusive language cases, but show where other textual options could have been chosen.

I agree that among the Bible translations that feature langauge that avoids the generic masculine (REB, GNT, TNIV, etc) the NRSV has at least the integrity to indicate in footnotes what the original Greek/Hebrew was. However, I’ve always been peeved that they don’t do the same for pronouns that they’ve changed (changing the third person singular to third person plural “they” or second person “you” to avoid the generic “he”). Are there scholarly reasons for not indicating that the original in Greek/Hebrew was actually was singular third person?

 

[Omyo12]

I agree that among the Bible translations that feature langauge that avoids the generic masculine (REB, GNT, TNIV, etc) the NRSV has at least the integrity to indicate in footnotes what the original Greek/Hebrew was. However, I’ve always been peeved that they don’t do the same for pronouns that they’ve changed (changing the third person singular to third person plural “they” or second person “you” to avoid the generic “he”). Are there scholarly reasons for not indicating that the original in Greek/Hebrew was actually was singular third person?

Sometimes, it seems to take it too far.

Apparently,

This “gender-neutralizing” of scripture moves beyond simply adding “and sisters” to an address that uses the word “brothers.” The translation changes the actual words, and therefore meaning, of the original texts, and in doing so alters and mistranslates aspects of the Catholic faith and heritage.

Lets not forget about Daniel 7:13

(NRSV)
“As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven…"

instead of

(RSV)
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man…”

Apparently, this was one of the reasons the Vatican rejected the NRSV for liturgical and catechetical use

 

[Supercatholic]

Make it simple. Go to the nearest Catholic book store. Choose a Catholic bible that you like to hold in your hand, a bible that has an appealing
size,
color,
feel,
cover,
paper texture,
corners (round or square),
print size.

Read it until the cover falls off, the binding breaks and the pages start to fall out. When you get advanced enough to worry about the translation you will buy a dozen bible translations and lots of bible software. Until then, read one that appeals to you.

Very good criteria, but you should also pay for the bible you choose before you have the cover fall off and all those other things. Books stores, even Catholic ones, seem to frown upon having their merchandise destroyed. To add to your criteria, I always go to Luke 1:28. If it doesn’t say “Hail, full of grace…”, to me it’s just not truly a Catholic bible. I know the “Doctors of the Church” will rebut my comment, but that is how I feel.

 

[atassina]

Yes sir. Why worry about the translation if you are not going to read the bible?