What Bible translation?

[LivingFaith]

I want an approved version of the Bible to read. Douay Reihms would be great, but the language isn’t the easiest to tackle in a quick read.

I have a New Jerusalem Bible but it’s too big to carry with me.

The RSV-CE is a bit too simplified for me if I’m remembering the language correctly.

So what would you suggest? I want something with a Catholic translation that’s not TOO modern, but also not too out dated.

Before converting I liked New King James, and disliked the NIV, and didn’t touch the Message Bible. If that gives a better view of where I’m coming from.

 

[po18guy]

There is the Knox, but it is British English. Simply excellent, but Anglicized. Youcan compare it side-by-side with the Douay-Rheims here. One that you might like is any of the 1941-1969 Confraternity Bibles. A truly excellent early-mid 20th century New Testament combined with varying degrees of the D-R in the OT. The introductions and foot notes are 100% Catholic - none of the modernist nonsense of the NAB and NAB/RE.

There are varying editions, as updated translations of certain OT books were added to it as years passed. Sadly, it was never printed with a complete set of the new OT translations, as the NAB killed it off in 1970. Some of the early editions are pure D-R in the OT and the Confraternity in the NT.

You can find them in used bookstores or on eBay for $10-20.

 

[LivingFaith]

Thanks for the suggestions, are any of these mentioned good for traveling with as a study/daily driver Bible?

 

[po18guy]

The Knox has no intros, and but a few, sparse footnotes. The Confraternity Bibles have the excellent notes and intros. They are cheap, so are really good for a daily reader. Some have fragile covers, simply due to their age.

Hard to believe that it is so difficult to find a truly excellent Catholic bible! I collect them and the Catholic Living Bible and the Catholic New Living Translation are OK, but really dumbed down. I hear there is a fresh translation of the Jerusalem Bible coming, but I hope it is not also huge.

A sleeper of sorts is the Oxford-Cambridge Revised English Bible (with “Apocrypha”). It has all of the Catholic books in it, but segregated from the other books. The translation itself was done with (name removed by moderator)ut from the Catholic Church in the UK. It is a pretty decent translation and online, excellent used copies are available for $5-$10 on Amazon, eBay or ThriftBooks.

 

[Dugtrio1]

I just use the Bible of my country: the NRSV. If you’re in America it would be the NABRE.

 

[deMontfort]

I want an approved version of the Bible to read. Douay Reihms would be great, but the language isn’t the easiest to tackle in a quick read.

I have a New Jerusalem Bible but it’s too big to carry with me.

The RSV-CE is a bit too simplified for me if I’m remembering the language correctly.

So what would you suggest? I want something with a Catholic translation that’s not TOO modern, but also not too out dated.

Before converting I liked New King James, and disliked the NIV, and didn’t touch the Message Bible. If that gives a better view of where I’m coming from.

The RSV-CE is the most word-for-word (formal equivalent) Catholic Bible out there. Not simplified at a all. The NAB is easily more dynamic equivalent, and the Jerusalem Bible even more so than the NAB.