Contemporary English Bible

[Augustine]

I wish that there were an English version of the Bible that wouldn’t translate Hebrew or Greek idioms literally. I don’t care about what scholars prefer, but the stilted language of the NAB, for instance, does get in my way of listening to God.

I heard that the Douay-Rheims aimed at making the text accessible, pretty much like the Vulgate on which it’s based. However, the DRB uses old English, which’s, to a foreigner like me, sounds too foreign to me. Is there any contemporary English version of the DRB, assuming that my assumptions about it are right? If not, which one aims at the same goal without washing down the text from any deep meaning?

 

[MarcoPolo]

I’m not precisely sure what you are looking for, but the good apologists of Catholic Answers favor the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) for it’s loyalty to the original true text and meaning in contemporary English.

 

[Augustine]

I’m not precisely sure what you are looking for, but the good apologists of Catholic Answers favor the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) for it’s loyalty to the original true text and meaning in contemporary English.

I’ll check it out, thanks.

 

[Augustine]

I’m not precisely sure what you are looking for, but the good apologists of Catholic Answers favor the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) for it’s loyalty to the original true text and meaning in contemporary English.

Well, I have to say that unless it doesn’t deviate from the Vulgate, I don’t care about it.

My litmus test is this: Luke 1:28 must be rendered “Hail, full of grace”. This is how the Church translated the original Greek into Latin and this is what I expect in English.

I don’t really care what scholars think is correct, but only about what the Church considers to be correct. She’s helped in a special way by the Holy Spirit, scholars aren’t, at least by no means with any guarantee.

 

[Rolltide]

Well, I have to say that unless it doesn’t deviate from the Vulgate, I don’t care about it.

My litmus test is this: Luke 1:28 must be rendered “Hail, full of grace”. This is how the Church translated the original Greek into Latin and this is what I expect in English.

I don’t really care what scholars think is correct, but only about what the Church considers to be correct. She’s helped in a special way by the Holy Spirit, scholars aren’t, at least by no means with any guarantee.

The RSV-CE does use “Hail, full of grace”. However, the NON-Catholic edition of the RSV uses “highly favored”. That’s why it’s important to get the Catholic Edition.

 

[Augustine]

The RSV-CE does use “Hail, full of grace”. However, the NON-Catholic edition of the RSV uses “highly favored”. That’s why it’s important to get the Catholic Edition.

Hah, cool! I could only find the regular RSV online, which explains my gripe.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Joel_Tunnah]

My litmus test is this: Luke 1:28 must be rendered “Hail, full of grace”…I don’t really care what scholars think is correct, but only about what the Church considers to be correct.

Sadly the Church doesn’t seem to care all that much about how verses like Luke 1:28 are translated - or at least the USCCB. The NAB has an imprimatur, and it says “Hail, favored one”.

I understand where you’re coming from though, and I think the DR is the only version that’s true to Catholic belief. The notes in the Challoner Revision are excellent too, and thoroughly orthodox.

But, as I said in another thread, a modern English translation of the Vulgate would be a nice thing to have.

Joel

 

[Jerry-Jet]

The Confraternity New Testament stays pretty close to the Vulgate while still being readable.

Confraternity New Testament + Douay Rheims Challoner Haydock Old Testament = Pretty Decent Bible!

 

[ricmat]

I’ve seen this on-line bible recommended on this site, but I’m not a scholar so…perhaps others could comment.

Catholic Public Domain Version a new translation of the Latin Vulgate, using the Douay Rheims as a guide

sacredbible.org/catholic/index.htm

 

[Augustine]

Catholic Public Domain Version a new translation of the Latin Vulgate, using the Douay Rheims as a guide

It’s still in the works, but should be a good on-line resource.

Thanks!

 

[Augustine]

But, as I said in another thread, a modern English translation of the Vulgate would be a nice thing to have.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[puzzleannie]

the New English Bible with Apocrypha Oxford & Cambridge U presses 1970 is a modern translation from the original languages by a committee representing most of the non-Catholic denominations in Great Britain, including Ch. of England, and is a very readable translation that has stood the test of time in the “contemporary English” department, and is far more faithful than, say, the Good News translation.

The Confraternity version is the modern US translation from the vulgate, and believe but someone will correct me if I am wrong, the Ronald Knox version is the equivalent British translation from the vulgate.

 

[Joel_Tunnah]

the New English Bible…is far more faithful…

Hmmm, like Acts 20:7?

On the Saturday night, in our assembly for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was to leave the next day, addressed them, and went on speaking until midnight.

So, I suppose we should all keep the saturday sabbath holy, according to the NEB?

And like most other non-Christian bibles, it blurs the prophecy in psalm 22:16, and features the attack of the Mighty Wind in Genesis 1:2

How about “Whitsuntide” for “Pentecost”?

And Our Lady of course is no longer full of grace in Luke 1:28.

This is not a bible you should be recommending to anyone, and certainly not for Catholics.

 

[puzzleannie]

I did not say it was the best translation, OP is looking for a contemporary English translation, it does contrast favorably with versions that are more idiomatic, like GNT, which OP does not like, I am neither recommending nor condemning it, just suggesting it as one OP would like to look at. chill out.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

for your “phrase to phrase” translation I think you may be looking for The Emphasized Bible which you can download from here,
crosswire.org/sword/modules/ModDisp.jsp?modType=Bibles

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

logos.com/products/details/2754

 

[Manfred]

I wish that there were an English version of the Bible that wouldn’t translate Hebrew or Greek idioms literally. I don’t care about what scholars prefer, but the stilted language of the NAB, for instance, does get in my way of listening to God.

Is there any contemporary English version of the DRB, assuming that my assumptions about it are right? If not, which one aims at the same goal without washing down the text from any deep meaning?

If you think the NAB is “stilted”, then the RSV-CE should come across as even more stilted, since it is a fairly literal translation of biblical Hebrew and Greek. While not as “traditional” as the D-R, it is probably not what you are looking for.

Check out the Jerusalem Bible (1966) or the New Jerusalem Bible (1985). The former is only sold today in a “Reader’s Edition”, with abbreviated book introductions and notes. The latter can be purchased in either a “Reader’s Edition” or with COMPLETE, unabridged book introductions and notes. The JB is used even today in many English-speaking countries for the readings at Mass. It is close in style to the New English Bible (1970), and I don’t particularly care for the colloquilistic style of either. I think the NJB is superior to both, in terms of accuracy and literary quality. The NJB has NOT been approved for use in the liturgy anywhere in the English-speaking world. If the heavily inclusive language NRSV and NAB can be used in the liturgy, the NJB, with its restrained and moderate use of inclusive language, would have been a better choice. But the Vatican didn’t consult me on this, so…

 

[silentdeb]

Sadly the Church doesn’t seem to care all that much about how verses like Luke 1:28 are translated - or at least the USCCB. The NAB has an imprimatur, and it says “Hail, favored one”.

I understand where you’re coming from though, and I think the DR is the only version that’s true to Catholic belief. The notes in the Challoner Revision are excellent too, and thoroughly orthodox.

But, as I said in another thread, a modern English translation of the Vulgate would be a nice thing to have.

Joel

DEFINITELY the Challoner Revision is magnificent! I bought one a few months back, and was just tickled to find an answer in the notes to the question that actually got me started, a few years ago, making a study of Catholicism… that is, what ‘people’ did Cain think were going to kill him, if the only people mentioned in the Bible to that point were his parents and dead brother? It was worth getting for that alone, but I do find the language quite lovely. I’m not big on modernizing biblical language (just a personal preference) … it doesn’t sound majestic enough without the 'thee’s and 'thou’s, etc.

 

[Augustine]

I’m not big on modernizing biblical language (just a personal preference) … it doesn’t sound majestic enough without the 'thee’s and 'thou’s, etc.

It’s just that for me, a foreigner, old English does get in the way…

 

[Augustine]

If you think the NAB is “stilted”, then the RSV-CE should come across as even more stilted, since it is a fairly literal translation of biblical Hebrew and Greek. While not as “traditional” as the D-R, it is probably not what you are looking for.

Thanks for the warning. I’m really sick and tired of translations which try to mimic Google translation services.

Check out the Jerusalem Bible (1966) or the New Jerusalem Bible (1985).

Actually, I do have the NJB, but in my native Portuguese. Thank goodness this translation didn’t opt to pander to political correctness.

Yet, I’m looking for an English bible, as it’s the language that I hear at Mass and that those who I talk to speak.

I’m afraid that I’ll just have to get over the DR’s old English…