I've got the Bible translation blues

[Epistemes]

We’ve all heard the same ol’ song many, many times here before…

…but this is just a thread stating, “I’ve got the blues - those Bible translation blues!”

Recently, I’ve come to regard the DR as perhaps the most accurate translation, despite my previous objections. Regardless, I want, so desperately, to like the New Jerusalem Bible, but I’ve got to be honest…I made so many translation corrections in my copy yesterday that I might as well re-write the whole thing from scratch!

I’m still a fan of the NAB, as a runner-up, but my Catholic Study Bible has such tight margins that it’s clearly impossible to even make certain translation corrections in it! The same goes for my Baronius DR.

There’s no real point to this thread…other than to say that it’s rather sad that we all need several Bibles…one to read, one to make notes in, one to carry around, and another to sit on the coffee table. This makes Bible study quite difficult!

 

[mccorm45]

I think you have the same feelings that many of us out here have. There is certainly no perfect translation out there, even the the vaunted DR. So, the best thing to do is to just be flexible enough to use various translations. If you are going to do serious word study, then you probably want to with the RSV-CE. If you are looking for something a little bit freer, then the NJB is a good bet. I have been a proponent of the NJB recently, as some of my previous posts will attest, but I certainly recognize a few of the strange translations in it. However, I have come to appreciate how it is more literal than the original JB, the generally great notes, the wide margins, and the crossreferences. (And while it uses inclusive language, I find that it is the best of all the modern translations out there in doing so, both Catholic and Protestant.) So, for my money, that is the best, all-around, version out there. Perfect? By no means! But very usable with many redeeming qualities.

 

[bauerice]

I feel your pain. I have a bookshelf of translations. I am a fan of the NJB (use it the most). I use the NAB and RSV-2CE. I have tried to read the DRB but have a hard time with the Older English.

 

[Manfred]

We’ve all heard the same ol’ song many, many times here before…

…but this is just a thread stating, “I’ve got the blues - those Bible translation blues!”

Recently, I’ve come to regard the DR as perhaps the most accurate translation, despite my previous objections. Regardless, I want, so desperately, to like the New Jerusalem Bible, but I’ve got to be honest…I made so many translation corrections in my copy yesterday that I might as well re-write the whole thing from scratch!

I’m still a fan of the NAB, as a runner-up, but my Catholic Study Bible has such tight margins that it’s clearly impossible to even make certain translation corrections in it! The same goes for my Baronius DR.

There’s no real point to this thread…other than to say that it’s rather sad that we all need several Bibles…one to read, one to make notes in, one to carry around, and another to sit on the coffee table. This makes Bible study quite difficult!

“no real point to this thread…”?? You’ve got to be kidding me!

As you can see, several of us feel similar to how you do about this.

I’ll weigh in with the RSV-CE, D-R, NJB - not necessarily in that order.

And for anyone who does indeed feel there’s “no real point to this thread…” :dts:

 

[RepentorPerish]

Nab footnotes in my opinion… disgraceful .

 

[colliric]

We’ve all heard the same ol’ song many, many times here before…

…but this is just a thread stating, “I’ve got the blues - those Bible translation blues!”

Recently, I’ve come to regard the DR as perhaps the most accurate translation, despite my previous objections. Regardless, I want, so desperately, to like the New Jerusalem Bible, but I’ve got to be honest…I made so many translation corrections in my copy yesterday that I might as well re-write the whole thing from scratch!

I’m still a fan of the NAB, as a runner-up, but my Catholic Study Bible has such tight margins that it’s clearly impossible to even make certain translation corrections in it! The same goes for my Baronius DR.

There’s no real point to this thread…other than to say that it’s rather sad that we all need several Bibles…one to read, one to make notes in, one to carry around, and another to sit on the coffee table. This makes Bible study quite difficult!

I use to have the same problem too. So I’ve got 5 bibles. 2 Catholic bibles and 3 protestant ones. I only use 1 anyway, my Baronius DR. Although occasionally I like to cross reference it with the Good News edition if I don’t understand the old English, which is rare. I like the GNB though because sometimes I just like reading easy English, plus I’ve had a GNB for all of my educative years from Grade 3 upward even though I got rid of my old protestant one and replaced it with a Deuterocanon inclusive Catholic one. I wouldn’t go near the NIV anymore even with a ten foot pole.

Catholic bibles:
Good News Bible: with Deuterocanon/Apocrypha
Baronius Douay Rheims

Protestant bibles:
King James Version(a barebones one)
New King James Version(also barebones one, it’s a Gideon’s bible and the first one I actually bothered started reading regularily)
Archelogical Study Bible: New International Version

I keep hearing good things about the RSV:CE, and I’m also wondering about the “Christian Community Bible” I always see at the Catholic book shop. Why does it have god’s full name instead of “THE LORD”?