I want to get into the scriptures. This is my plan

[SalesianSDB]

If you’re already thinking of the Orthodox Study Bible, and don’t mind the few notes on the Papacy (they’re not faith-challenging in the slightest compared to something like the NAB), I would highly recommend it, especially in the Old Testament (although I think the NETS is better in places, especially Sirach: the OSB’s rendering of Sirach leaves much to be desired), which doesn’t obscure prophecy and is unapologetically Christological. The NKJV is one of the best, if not the best, modern translations for devotional purposes, whether it originally was Protestant or not, and in the OSB, you get a decent LXX translation and the full canon of Scripture.

I’m considering asking my grandmother for a new Bible for Christmas. The one I currently have is the NRSV-CE Youth Bible, which I like, but I am thinking of getting another translation. I am between the OSB or RSV-CE. I’m leaning towards the OSB since it is a study Bible and I think it’s good to have translations or notes from other denominations (which is why I own a NKJV, which I quite like). Do you think I should get another Bible?

 

[Khalid]

You should definitely get another Bible: the NRSV is unreliable for use as a primary translation, or a first translation read. It can be good for use in comparing verses.

If you don’t read the Greek at an excellent level (I don’t), you should always have several translations, even if one of them is “the best” translation (the DRC), in each language that you can read.

If you can read the Early Modern English, the DRC is impossible to beat, and one of the best Catholic study Bibles (the Haydock) is in DRC only, which comes in two massive, heavily-annotated 12"x9" volumes of about 1900 pages, one OT and one NT, which can be had used for about $15 each. A DRC text-only can be had for about $10.

I would lean towards the OSB if you want study notes, modern English and a full Bible. The NT is straight NKJV. The OT is accurate, but there are several places where the formatting is bad (Isaiah as prose instead of poetry), and it’s LXX, so there is a significant difference between it and the standard MT in some places (esp. Jeremiah), although, in those places, it almost always aligns better with the NT authors’ quotations and interpretations. It’s extremely literal, more so than the NKJV. It also contains the non-canonical books of 3 Esdras and 3 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh. The Book of Sirach is not excellently translated, and the Psalms are hyper-literal in many places, so that the meaning may not be immediately obvious. The rendering of Isaiah is probably the best in any English Bible. Overall, it’s good, and can be had in hardcover in New condition from Amazon for $20 (leather is $35). The gutter is very narrow so it can get annoying, but that has nothing to do with the text, just the build of the Bible.

If you have a bit more money to spend, consider also the RSV-2CE Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament, which is the best modern faithful Catholic commentary, which can be had for $15 on Amazon.

The RSV-2CE is a decent translation (excellent in the NT) but, so far, only the NT comes with commentary: the OT is text-only. However, it’s basis is more widely-used, and aligns with other Bibles. The full text-only edition can be had for $20 on Amazon.

Those are good translations - the RSV-2CE, the DRC, and the OSB - to start out with, one from each major textual tradition (Masoretic, Vulgate, LXX). If you ever get in to more Bible study, you can consider the ESV, the NASB, the NETS, etc.: it’s much easier to find an excellent Catholic New Testament than an excellent Catholic OT.

If you need any more information on various Bibles or very specific strengths and weaknesses instead of a general overview, feel free to ask.