Which Bible Translation is your Favorite?

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I own different Bibles. To of them are written in english. “Ignatius the Holy Bible (RSV) Catholic Edition” and "The Catholic Youth Bible (NRSV).

I use both of them, but must admit that even if I am a grown up, I prefere the “Youth Bible”. Since english is not my first language, that Bible is more easy to read because the text is not “stuffed together”. It is is more easy to pause and reflect with that Bible on the table. That Bible (since the comments to the biblical text is written to be understood by youth with different cultural background) also give me an opprtunity to never forget that Gods love is GREAT.

I think it can be good also for grown ups to remember the ups and downs of the youngest of the young. We are all vulnarable and then we need Jesus Christ and his Church!

In the moments when we feel alone, as we all do sometimes, this Bible is the one that makes me remember that I am NOT alone.

(Please excuse any spellingmistakes).

God Bless!

G.G.
 
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jurist12:
In the poll I voted “other”. This issue of translation is problematic for Catholics as all the best translations are done by Protestants.
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This indeed is has perplexed me as a Protestant with sympathies to conservative Catholicism that more alternatives have not been available to a Catholic audience. Granted, I think there are waaay too many translations these days (though those without merit fade away in the end).
If we Catholics could persuade the publisher ( the Lockman Foundation) of the NASB to have an edition with the Deutero-Canoncal books that would be ideal. As it stands now the NASB is my choice as the best English translation available. In Christ jurist12
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This would be nice to see. The ESV website says that HarperCollins (the UK publisher of the ESV) may publish one with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books (Anglican audience?) but I can’t find any info from anyone else about this. I hate to say that I won’t hold my breath on most of these. (It’s surprising to me that with as much popularity as it has that the NIV never made a Catholic edition.)
 
I like the Ignatius Bible (RSV), BUT:
I tend to use the NIV a lot for a number of reasons:

First, I teach CCD and the NIV is easy to read. If my students (6th grade) got “into” theology and the bible enough for the theological deficiencies of the NIV to make a difference, I’d be thrilled.

But here’s the real reason:(soapbox mode on):
Many of my students don’t even have a bible at home. I give them a bible if they want one, don’t have one, and their parents are unlikely to get one for their use. Catholic materials cost much more than their protestant equivalents! I’d rather give out RSV bibles, but I can’t get them for less than about $12 apice. I can get NIV bibles for $4 if I buy a case of 12. Why is that?

Further, I go through most of the OT in one year with my 6th graders. That’s why I teach 6th grade – we Catholics are notoriously bad at catechising our young, especially in biblical knowledge. Without that foundation, all the teachings about the Church, good works, loving your neighbor, etc. is useless. These people will likely leave the Church as adults unless they realize that the RCC is biblically based. Anyway, I like to use various media to keep the kids’ interest, and one that I use frequently is an audio Bible that they can read along with. Well, I can’t buy an audio RSV or NAB bible on tape or CD! They only have the NT in audio! Why is it that protestants can do this, and Catholics can’t?

I spend a small fortune on theological study material - books, tapes, CD’s, software, seminars, etc. If Karl would look up my account in saintjoe.com, he’d be able to verify that. But I can’t really afford to buy things to give away to help evangelize. For instance, I could (and did!) buy a case of a half-dozen of Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ for $20!

I understand that Catholic theologians and apologists need to make a living, and I don’t want to deny them that at all. I just wish that we could get the word out easier and cheaper. Karl, if I could buy a half-dozen copies of Catholicism and Fundamentalism to give away for $20 or $25, I would! If it were available as a .pdf file, so that I could more easily search, that would be better, and if multiple licenses were available cheaply, I could reach more people.

(OK, soapbox mode off)
 
I clicked on New Jerusalem … because it was closest to my choice, which is the Bible de Jérusalem. Same basic translation strategy, different language. Great set of footnotes.
 
I’d have to say that my favorite translation for personal study would be the RSVCE, 1960’s version (it still says, "Hail, full of grace . . . "). I’m not looking for a traditionalist rumble; I just like the graceful language and accuracy in the translation of it .
 
Ironically the one Bible I like best for readibility is the New Jerusalem and I don’t have one! (I think I’ll change that though…) I have the RSV-CE, the NAB, and the Dhouey-Rheims and the KJV. The latter is a leftover from my Protestant days which I still use on occasion when I deal with a “KJV only-ite”. - God bless! - Mfaustina1
 
For reading I like the Authorised Version the best because of it’s language and it is a highly accurate translation. I like studying the NKJV because it is easier to understand. I also study the NRSV-Oxford College Study Edition.
 
When I began to read scripture on a regular basis, I used the Good News Bible (Today’s English Version). This might be a good choice for someone who is just starting to read scripture seriously, it’s a relatively easy read. I still like this Bible for lectio divina and devotional reading. My preferences now for most purposes are RSV-CE and Douay Rheims. Keep reading, and peace.
 
I prefer the St. Ignatius because from what I’ve heard it is used by the Vatican and it has been translated from the original Hebrew. (?)
 
i prefer the jerusalem bible , the language is beautiful and better that the New jerusalem bible, i also like the NIV and the RSV.
 
My favorite version was not listed: The Jerusalem Bible (original).
 
I use the New Jerusalem Bible a lot (despite liberal notes) and I have a sneaking liking for the NIV because of its style and clarity, however the notes and even some of the translations are twisted to conform to protestant biases.

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Christian Community Bible,
amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8428520496/qid=1087684312/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5195830-5883804?v=glance&s=books

A surprisingly good translation from the 3rd world.
As befits a bible designed for use in the poorer nations of the world, it is not expensive, and has excellent Catholic and **spiritual ** notes, rather than liberal lameness. It also translates the angel’s greeting properly as “Full of Grace.”, not theprotestantised “highly favoured”, the liberals have adopted.
 
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Axion:
I use the New Jerusalem Bible a lot (despite liberal notes) and I have a sneaking liking for the NIV because of its style and clarity, however the notes and even some of the translations are twisted to conform to protestant biases.

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Christian Community Bible,
amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8428520496/qid=1087684312/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5195830-5883804?v=glance&s=books

A surprisingly good translation from the 3rd world.
As befits a bible designed for use in the poorer nations of the world, it is not expensive, and has excellent Catholic and **spiritual ** notes, rather than liberal lameness. It also translates the angel’s greeting properly as “Full of Grace.”, not theprotestantised “highly favoured”, the liberals have adopted.
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Luke 1:28 kai eiselthön ho aggelos pros autën eipen, Chaire, kecharitömenë, ho kurios meta sou. (Transliterated Greek text from the Greek N.T)

English Translation: highly favored
Greek Lexical: charitoö
Greek Inflected: kecharitömenë
G/K Number: G5923
Strong’s Number: G5487

Luke 1:28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (NIV)

As we can see from the above, the correct translation is highly favored.
 
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Ric:
As we can see from the above, the correct translation is highly favored.
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What a wonderfully ambiguous sentence! I believe I will have to add to your reputation.

Personally, I highly favor correct translations too. 😛
 
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Sanctus:
IF YOU VOTE OTHER PLEASE LIST YOUR CHOICE 😃
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Back in the day I was a theology student, so I’ve got lots of Bibles of lots of translations, but the one I like best overall is the OLD Jerusalem Bible. There’s also a translation of the New Testament only called Kleist-Lilly that is also very excellent.

karen marie
 
I like the Douay Rheims Bible myself since it sounds all old and ancient Bible-y and stuff. Nothin makes some one sound more authoritative than running around spouting thees and thys and such.
 
The Confraternity Version (with both the Old and New Testaments) is my favorite version. I believe it was the last pre-Vatican II Bible. It is rock solid in both it’s translation and the Greek manuscripts it uses. For example, try looking up Matt. 18:11 in your RSV-CE Bible. It’s not there! AND THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER EXAMPLES! The Confraternity Version (and all other pre-Vatican II Bibles) gives us the full, traditional Bible of 2,000 years. Modern Bibles rob us of 100’s of words of the scriptures. Note: While it has some issues, the RSV-CE is best and most trust worthy post Vatican II Bible. Note: Dynamic content Bibles are in essence putting what are the notes of a text into the text. Compare Luke 22:31-32 of the New Jerusalem Bible (dynamic content; thought for thought) with the RSV-CE (primarily a formal content; word for word translation). We should not add to the word of God. Let it speak for itself and KEEP THE NOTES IN THE MARGINS.

We should also be on the alert for the cancer of political correctness. This stench is found in the NRSV, the New Jerusalem Bible and the NAB (listed from worst to least infected). This cancer not only assumes that God inspired insensitive language (by referring to us a Man; see Genesis 5:2) but also blurs Messianic passages (see Psalms 8). They’ve also taken the Holy Spirit out of Genesis 1:2. The NAB has some horrible book introductions (compare them with a pre-Vatican II Bible and you’ll see) and awful notes (see the notes on Matt. 16:21-23 where it’s only PROBABLE that Christ foresaw his suffering and death and Matt. 21:7 where’s it’s stated that Matthew, and by implication the Holy Spirit who inspired him, misunderstood an Old Testament passage!!!) I’m a former evangelical. If these Bibles were put into Protestant bookstores the publishers would be run out of town and deservedly so. Somebody has been asleep at the wheel. Translators should take note of II Cor. 4:2, “we do not corrupt the word of God” - Confraternity Version, or “we refuse to practice cunning or to TAMPER with the word of God” - RSV-CE. AMEN!!
 
I like the 1966 Reader’s Edition of the Jerusalem Bible best. I find the language beautiful and started using it after watching Mother Angelica on EWTN.
 
New American Bible is the only one I have, from my RCIA program,
and an old family bible that has the old testement in it, it is huge
with a case with a lil light in it, very nice, red with gold and alot of
pictures, I know I need the revised version, heard it on catholic news radio.
 
For a long time I was an RSV man, for its readability. However, I’ve recently been given a Douay Rheims version, and I’ve fallen love all over again. I really don’t find the language as difficult as I’ve heard it was, and in some cases the phrasing is surprisingly modern.

I also have a copy of the 1953 Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, which uses the DR, so having a matching Bible helps immensely.
 
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