Which Bible translation do you use at home?

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I’ve used different flavours of the RSV over the years - haven’t gotten the Ignatius versions yet, but I have the old RSV-CE NT and the NRSV as well as the Oxford Study Bible (RSV 1971 NT + deuterocanonicals and RSV OT). Sometimes I’ll use the Confraternity NT because I still have a fondness for the Vulgate (although not the DR). The Confraternity sometimes uses a better Vulgate text than the Clementine for several passages.

I’ve downloaded and spent a fair bit of time latley with this version:
orthodoxanswers.org/eob/download.asp

Unlike the Orthodox Study Bible, this one actually uses the Antoniades New Testament text established by the see of Constantinople in 1903. This makes it very similar to - but not identical to - the Greek majority text tradition, because the textual basis for it is that of the Greek lectionary tradition. The translator’s textual preferences echo the kind you’d expect to see in a traditional Catholic bible - “Amen” is left untranslated. “where the body is, there the eagles shall be gathered together” is how St. Chrysostom interpreted the famous passage as it is found in the Douay. Brethren for brothers, hail full of grace, etc. The EOB NT is a revision of the “World English Bible”, which is a revision of the ASV. That being said, it’s very much a contemporary English version and quite readable.

Note, - the OSB Old Testament cannot purport to be a full translation of the LXX, as it’s largely a revision of the NKJV. So there are many places where the Masoretic Text readings are left alone. There are as yet no full-blown liturgically friendly current translations of the LXX Old Testament. (I’ve excluded the NETS, although I do recommend it, but it’s not something you’d read from the pulpit. It’s very “Greek English.” )
 
NAB for now in print.
So that’s what I voted.
On my computer I use NAB for English, CEI for Italian (that’s the Conferenza Episcopale Italiana - Italian Episcopal Conference, a Catholic version) and the Vulgate for Latin but I love comparing verses in various English translation with the Vulgate.
 
I use the New Jerusalem Bible which is the translation in my CTS New Catholic Bible. This is the translation used in the Lectionary here in England and Wales so it is useful as I read at Mass.
 
Curretly, my gift copy of the New International Bible; whilst not Catholic, it isn’t tied to anything else either *Prepared to be shot down as a heathen 😉 * and until I know what I’m doing with my life…will do me for now =]

-Josh-
 
I studied Theology at University (now doing an MA in Philosophical Theology) so I’ve been lucky enough to learn Greek. I use a Greek New Testament and the Greek version of the Old Testament, i.e. the Septuagint. However I usually have the New Revised Standard Version open next to it as well.
 
I found out through another catholic site that I had a Protestant translation of the bible, and this bummed me out. This was a very easy to ready bible. I need to stick with the New American like I had in parochial school.

Apparently the translations from Greek to Latin show favor to Mary instead of the “Hail Mary, full of Grace,” in Luke 1:28. Whatever the case, I still think that favored means chosen over all others.

Catholic hymns song:

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star
so strong and bright,
gentle mother peaceful dove
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father:
You were chosen for the Son,
You were chosen from all women
and for woman shining one.

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star
so strong and bright
gentle mother peaceful dove
teach us wisdom; teach us love

Blessed are you among women
Blessed touch over the true
Blessed they with peaceful spirits
Blessed they with special hearts.

Gentle woman, quiet light,
Gentle woman peaceful dove
Gentle mother, quiet light,
Gentle woman peaceful dove

Gentle woman…Gentle woman…
Gentle woman…Gentle woman

I sang this as a child in school, it has a very solemn constant rhythm, must be based on the bible passage I quoted. So time to go bible hunting.
 
I use the RSV-CE and the NJB mostly for devotional purposes, although I really like my copy of the parallel NT with the DR, NAB, RSV-CE, NRSV, JB, NJB, GNV, and the Cath. Comm. Bible. The NAB NT isn’t bad (though a little “squishy”) but I don’t like that Rome is needing to revise the OT/Psalm.
 
I have a New American Bible, a King James Version, the RSV-CE (Ignatius), and I just recently obtained a Douay-Rheims, which was printed in the 1930’s. I’ve just started reading the D-R, and I was actually somewhat surprised that I found it easier to read than the other versions. Though, the different phrasology in the D-R takes some getting used to, i.e., “let light be made,” as opposed to the more “famous” “let there be light,” as do the different renditions of the names, i.e., “Noe” instead of “Noah.”
 
Personally I much prefer translations in Modern English to DR or KJV. I am a convert from a very fundamental Protestant denomination that worshipped the bible far more than they did God. They overexagerated the Holy! Innerent! Infallible! Dicated word by word,. WORD! of GOD!!! turning into thier God, and they truly worshipped the bible.
Every week 3x the preacher called the bible “God” by saying “God says” instead of “the bible says”. They also said that the KJV is the only bible that was the WORD!

They were also hyper-conservative.

So I may over react to the opposite way, but I still think it is much better than bibliolatry.

And yes I prefer the New Revised Standard bible, I can hear some saying “but it has that sinful inclusive languague in it.” But if you read the preface to that bible you will note that it does not change gender for it’s own sake or to be feminist. But only to render the original languages more accurately by retaining the original meaning. It only changes gender when it is in the original text. It was the later translations that render everything to the male gender when it is not included in the text it’self.
 
pipper said:
Can I respectfully ask why?

I can’t understand the DR any more than the KJV I was raised on.
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It’s harder to understand than modern versions, true, but it’s easier to read than Shakespeare.
 
It would have been nice to opt for multiple responses.

I use the DR, RSV(Catholic), and NAB.

NAB is my apologetic Bible, only because it was a cheaper one gifted to me when I converted and I have mounds of notes, highlights, and stickies in it.

DR is more of a “treasure” than anything else. It was rather expensive and spends most of its time on my home altar.

RSV is my “ever-day” bible. It lacks gilded pages, ribbons, etc. It’s small, fits into my backpack (and even back pocket) and is super portable for when I’m on the bus or subway.
 
pipper said:
Can I respectfully ask why?

I can’t understand the DR any more than the KJV I was raised on.
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Really? That’s what sort of attracts me to the DR. I was raised Mormon so I was raised with a bit of that “KJV Only” mentality.

I was at first turned off by modern versions, mostly for the superfluous reason for the lack of the respectful second person references to God.

My biggest hurdle with the DR was learning the differences in the names of the various books.

Who the hell is Sophonias? 😉
 
JuanCarlos said:
I’m a Confraternity guy. To me, no Bible comes better- it retains the dignified style of the DR, but it is completely readable to the 21st century Catholic.

A shame the Old Testament wasn’t translated like the New though. For the Old Testament, I am still looking for a Bible I like.
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Very much agreed. I love the Confraternity NT.
 
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