I need a new Bible... help me pick one

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daylightagain

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I know there are a million threads like this, but I’m not just looking for advice on translations - but the actual printed bibles themselves. Here’s what I own currently:

Haydock Douay Rheims [Catholic Treasures 2 volume set] - This is my main Bible for studying.

1941 Confraternity New Testament - This is my main “casual” reading New Testament. Love the translation - really wish they completed the OT.

CASB Volume 1: St Matthew

and for reference King James and New King James versions.

What I want/need: A single volume complete Catholic Translation that I can easily carry around (unlike the Haydock!) outside the house. The quality of the translation is important, but I’m also a stickler for good presentation. Binding, extras (not really commentary… more like maps and stuff), size (smaller the better), and looks are all very important to me.

What is the nicest Bible overall that meets these requirements? I wouldn’t mind trying a new translation either (like the original Jersusalem Bible… do they still print that?) after all if I’m shelling out cash for it, I’d kind of like a fresh perspective. But this is not necessarily essential to me.

Any help and especially pictures and in depth reviews would be much appreciated.
 
I am thrilled with my pocket size Ignatius bible RSV-CE I got for Christmas, mine has a dark burgundy leather binding with a zipper, the other style is a brown 2-tone suede, no zipper, also very nice. For me small size was important. 4.5 x 6.5, lightweight, because I travel light. No notes. I just enjoy using it, it is very attractive and perfectly fits my needs for a travel, chapel bible.

I have a prejudice against paperback bibles, and against bibles not printed on acid-free paper. I am slowly replacing the cheap paperback NAB we use for CCD with hard-cover on good paper as they go on sale. They last much longer, and are treated by the kids with more respect as well. If I have a paperback bible I try to find or make a cover for it. I also don’t like the feel of vinyl on my hands so I like fabric or leather covers. Sounds a little petty, but the bible you will read is the one you like to use.
 
puzzleannie said:
I am thrilled with my pocket size Ignatius bible RSV-CE I got for Christmas, mine has a dark burgundy leather binding with a zipper, the other style is a brown 2-tone suede, no zipper, also very nice. For me small size was important. 4.5 x 6.5, lightweight, because I travel light. No notes. I just enjoy using it, it is very attractive and perfectly fits my needs for a travel, chapel bible.

I have a prejudice against paperback bibles, and against bibles not printed on acid-free paper. I am slowly replacing the cheap paperback NAB we use for CCD with hard-cover on good paper as they go on sale. They last much longer, and are treated by the kids with more respect as well. If I have a paperback bible I try to find or make a cover for it. I also don’t like the feel of vinyl on my hands so I like fabric or leather covers. Sounds a little petty, but the bible you will read is the one you like to use.
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Thank you for the recommendation. And that’s not petty at all… I’m the same way. When it comes to something you read as often as the Bible you want the best quality in the actual book itself.
 
francesco920 said:
I recommend the Compact Ignatius Bible (RSV - CE).

ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=2561&SKU=IBC:BNT-P&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3dbible

You can find reviews here

amazon.com/Ignatius-Catholic-Bible-Standard-Burgundy/dp/1586171011/sr=1-2/qid=1168213158/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-8445072-4586803?ie=UTF8&s=books
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So that’s the same as puzzleannie’s bible, except suede? How’s the translation… do they use priests/presbyters in the NT or “elders”?
 
daylightagain said:
So that’s the same as puzzleannie’s bible, except suede? How’s the translation… do they use priests/presbyters in the NT or “elders”?
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The translation is very good. This is an excerpt from the Catholic Answers’ Bible Translations Guide.
We recommend staying away from translations with unconventional renderings, such as the TEV, and suggest using the Revised Standard Version- Catholic Edition. This is a Church-approved version of the RSV that has a few, minor changes in the New Testament. It has been reissued by Ignatius Press under the title The Ignatius Bible (available from Catholic Answers in both hardcover and paperback formats).
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I agree with the previous posters on the Ignatius Bible. It is pretty compact and a good translation.
 
daylightagain,

If you like the Douay-Rheims translation, there is the compact Baronius Press edition. Since it was digitally retypeset, it does have a few typos, however.

The RSV-CE compact mentioned earlier also has “typos.” Check out this thread for the story. I have the compact Baronius D-R Bible; I prefer the typos I’ve seen so far in this Bible any day over the typos in the compact RSV-CE.

Maria
 
I use the NAB and the KJV together, Mother Angelica used The new Jerusalem Bible, and I have used it, but I don’t pull it off the shelf too often.
 
One could write an encycopedia about all the mistranslations of non-Vulgate Bibles.

When Trent said the Vulgate did not err in faith or morals it was telling the truth. That doesn’t mean it is perfect but as far as I can tell none of the other versions and translations can make that claim.

Go Douay Rheims Haydock–it’s about as Catholic as you can get in English.
 
daylightagain said:
I wouldn’t mind trying a new translation either (like the original Jersusalem Bible… do they still print that?)
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The original Jerusalem Bible is still available in the “Reader’s Edition”, which as I understand it is the 1966 translation. This version has no commentary except for a page or two introduction to each book. Footnotes are minimal. This edition does not have any extras to speak of, but to me that’s actually the nice thing about this Bible. It strips out all of the other stuff that can get distracting. Even the line numbers are moved to the margin and de-emphasized so as not to break up the flow of the text. I have other bibles with good commentary, but this is the one I turn to when I want to let myself sink into the scripture.

Here’s a link to it at Amazon where you can look some images of the book.

This edition has the size and weight of an typical hardcover book. It’s reasonable for carrying around, but it’s not ultra-portable like the compact Ignatius mentioned earlier. Now that thing is exceptionally small.

–Bill
 
daylightagain said:
I know there are a million threads like this, but I’m not just looking for advice on translations - but the actual printed bibles themselves. Here’s what I own currently:

Haydock Douay Rheims [Catholic Treasures 2 volume set] - This is my main Bible for studying.

1941 Confraternity New Testament - This is my main “casual” reading New Testament. Love the translation - really wish they completed the OT.

CASB Volume 1: St Matthew

and for reference King James and New King James versions.

What I want/need: A single volume complete Catholic Translation that I can easily carry around (unlike the Haydock!) outside the house. The quality of the translation is important, but I’m also a stickler for good presentation. Binding, extras (not really commentary… more like maps and stuff), size (smaller the better), and looks are all very important to me.

What is the nicest Bible overall that meets these requirements? I wouldn’t mind trying a new translation either (like the original Jersusalem Bible… do they still print that?) after all if I’m shelling out cash for it, I’d kind of like a fresh perspective. But this is not necessarily essential to me.

Any help and especially pictures and in depth reviews would be much appreciated.
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I too have the Haydock D-R Bible which is two volumes. If you like the D-R but want one volume to carry why not try the Challoner Douay-Rheims which has no commentary but does have maps and a historical index.
 
First off, thank you everyone for the comments and suggestions so far. 🙂
Mot_Juste said:
The original Jerusalem Bible is still available in the “Reader’s Edition”, which as I understand it is the 1966 translation. This version has no commentary except for a page or two introduction to each book. Footnotes are minimal. This edition does not have any extras to speak of, but to me that’s actually the nice thing about this Bible. It strips out all of the other stuff that can get distracting. Even the line numbers are moved to the margin and de-emphasized so as not to break up the flow of the text. I have other bibles with good commentary, but this is the one I turn to when I want to let myself sink into the scripture.

Here’s a link to it at Amazon where you can look some images of the book.

This edition has the size and weight of an typical hardcover book. It’s reasonable for carrying around, but it’s not ultra-portable like the compact Ignatius mentioned earlier. Now that thing is exceptionally small.

–Bill
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Hi, Bill, thanks for the suggestion. I was hoping you could do me two favors:
  1. If you have a digital camera could you take a picture of the Bible without the jacket? If not, could you describe what it looks like? Color? Designs on the front?
  2. How is Isaiah 7:14 translated? Virgin or young woman? And St Luke 1:28? I think I read somewhere it’s ‘highly favored’?? 😦 In the NT, is the greek translated presbyters, priests, or “elders”? E.g. in St James 5:14.
Thank you.
 
daylightagain said:
  1. If you have a digital camera could you take a picture of the Bible without the jacket? If not, could you describe what it looks like? Color? Designs on the front?
  2. How is Isaiah 7:14 translated? Virgin or young woman? And St Luke 1:28? I think I read somewhere it’s ‘highly favored’?? 😦 In the NT, is the greek translated presbyters, priests, or “elders”? E.g. in St James 5:14.
Thank you.
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I’m not Bill but…
  1. The cover looks exactly like the dust cover.
  2. Isa 7:14…The Lord himself, therefore will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel…Luke 1:26…He went in and said to her," Rejoice, so highly favored! The Lord is with you…James 5:14 “elders”
 
bauerice said:
I’m not Bill but…
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Thank you!
  1. The cover looks exactly like the dust cover.
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That’s interesting… hmm
  1. Isa 7:14…The Lord himself, therefore will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel…Luke 1:26…He went in and said to her," Rejoice, so highly favored! The Lord is with you…James 5:14 “elders”
Click to expand...
“Eww” to all of those.

Thanks again!
 
As of January 7, Catholic Treasures is now selling a single volume Hardback Leather Douay Rheims Haydock Bible for $125.00. They say it has a bible dictionary and maps and will one day be a collector’s item.

It may be worth checking out. Most poeple who own the two volume Douay Rheims Haydock Bible are pleased with it–so a 1 volume Bible might be really nice.
 
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