Which Bible Translation is your Favorite?

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Sanctus:
IF YOU VOTE OTHER PLEASE LIST YOUR CHOICE 😃

That’ll help us see where you’re coming from…
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Uhh I prefer a Dutch translation :rotfl:

Emmy
 
Mia Storm:
For ease of reading and good organization of the material, I prefer the NAB. For an authoritative translation, the RSV-CE. I wish someone would print the RSV-CE in a user-friendly version. The Ignatius version is awful with its razor-thin pages, smooshed-together type, no chapter headings, few notes, and difficult-to-use cross-references. It’s almost impossible to find a verse you’re looking for in there if you don’t know the chaper and verse off the top of your head. Often, I’ll flip through the NAB looking for it, then go to the RSV for an authoritative translation with chapter and verse from the NAB.
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I agree. I would like to you the RSV-CE more but it is not user-friendly. I have been watching for another edition that would have a little larger print, more “white space”, chapter headings and larger chapter numbers. Maybe some day…I hope bible publishers read this forum.
 
I grew up in a Catholic extended family where there were no Bibles in our homes.

It is refreshing to see so many of the Catholic faith who have a love for God’s love letters to us.

You guys & gals are great! Keep reading. 🙂
 
I actually have several bibles around the house, and will read from them all.

We get asked a similar question pretty frequently in RCIA, sometime around the week that we hand out new bibles to everyone, coincidentally. Now, I don’t particularly favor Billy Graham, but there is one quote that has been atributed to him that I do like: when asked what the BEST translation of the bilbe is, he answered “The one you read”. I can’t argue with that, too much.
 
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Danw:
I agree. I would like to you the RSV-CE more but it is not user-friendly. I have been watching for another edition that would have a little larger print, more “white space”, chapter headings and larger chapter numbers. Maybe some day…I hope bible publishers read this forum.
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Yes, the RSV-CE format needs drastic improvement. Watch for Scepter publishers this fall (maybe September?) to publish an RSV-CE Bible. It “may” (I can only hope) be with an improved layout. They were the only publisher I knew of that made an RSV-CE Bible in bonded leather. They stopped this spring but will try something new in the fall. Also, if you get the Ignatius Study Bible Commentary that Hahn is putting together, you’ll notice the text is layed out with headings, etc. I think that Bible when it comes out (it may be a while at this pace) will have a nice font, layout, etc.
 
I may start a thread that discusses translations because it is something that requires some explantions. But let me say this much. There are so many different tranlators among the team of translators in just about every English translation, and the quality varies among each book or testaments for that matter.

As far as the New Testament goes, the NAB is top notch! But many places in the OT I have found some places that really stink. Though most of my judgments are based upon Greek, since I don’t know Hebrew. I do believe the Greek OT(Septuagint) is the better version then the Hebrew OT. But that is a different matter that gets into textual criticism.

The NAB is very faithful to the Greek. It is a literal translation for the most part, which is better for accuracy then a paraphrase Bible or dynamic equivilent Bible.
 
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Danw:
I agree. I would like to you the RSV-CE more but it is not user-friendly. I have been watching for another edition that would have a little larger print, more “white space”, chapter headings and larger chapter numbers. Maybe some day…I hope bible publishers read this forum.
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The Oxford University Press’ “Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha 50th Anniversary Edition” has headings in-text and a very nice layout, IMHO. Oxford’s Bibles are also usually extremely well-made and sturdy. The problem of this edition for Catholics is that the deuterocanonicals are after the OT rather than in it. (The Greek deuterocanonicals - 1/2 Esdras, 3/4 Maccabees, Psalm 151, Manasseh - are after the Roman Catholic deuterocanonicals).
 
Always have, and always will love and use the King James Version.

~achaean
 
There’s a very interesting modern revision of the KJV with deuterocanicals called “The Third Millenium Bible”. They have an article comparing about 12 translations on varied words. Here’s the link: tmbible.com/BWCcitations.htm
 
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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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This bible and commentary is available for free downloadHere .

In JMJ, Richard
 
In response to Mr. Keating’s praise of Monsignor Knox, while he may be orthodox compared to the more modern biblical scholars, he still began in many ways the early forms of modern scholarship, and one must be cautious reading him, though it is unlikely one will ever have the chance as his work is so scarcely seen today. For an understanding of Monsignor Knox’s errors, I recommend you all to this article:
fatherfeeney.org/point/58-jul.htm

By the way, if it is not clear, I voted for the Douay Rheims Bible, which I prefer, but I should point out that I, of course, hold that the Vulgate is the best of all Bibles, though I am unable yet to read most of it. God bless.

Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus,
Adam
 
Count me in the The Jerusalem Bible (original) camp. I wish I had an original one with the notes but when I am just reading the scriptures, this is the one I pick up.
 
i think the bible we choose to read is very important. some bibles have missing books and different wordings.
 
I chose the RSV-CE, I have read through it and have the new testament on tape, although I don’t have one personally I plan on getting one soon. I also like the Navarre for my study bibles, I have the new testament and the first one of the old testament. I also have a precious moments childrens bible(nkjv) from my protestant days, and I do like to read through it, it is still my favorite do to the easy reading. It has all the books(not the duetorocanonicles)but everything else. I have the Douyrheims-cant remeber the second part, I like that for the literal translations.
 
Personally I like New American Standard Bible. Very good literal translation. Unfortunately its a protestant bible so I keep NAB around for the deuterocanon but I really don’t like the NAB translation and the rather liberal commentary it has.

I’m waiting for the complete Ignatius Study bible (whole bible w/ commentary, not just individual books) to come out…then I’ll switch over
 
I’m not impressed with Catholic Bibles at all. Having come from a Protestant church, I am familiar with the N.I.V., I like it a lot (even tho it has a few biases, better the devil you know so they say).

If the N.K.J.V. translators released the D.C.s then I would jump for joy. It combines literalness with poetic sensibility. I go to it when I want to ponder over a text, or memorise it, rather than just to skim-read.

As for Bibles marked “Catholic” here goes:

RSV-CE: The best in my opinion, but not great. A few liberalisms really get on my nerves. And why address God with the thou-pronoun? Were these guys on drugs or something? Gen 12:3 doesn’t impress me either. The end notes were pretty lame—I ended up removing them altogether from mine.

NRSV-CE: Better the old-RSV-CE with that the annoying thou-ing of God gone. It would be a better translation, in my opinion, if it didn’t have politically correct language. Altho I hear that the new mass translation will use a NRSV minus the pol cor language. Come on Pell, release it as a Bible in addition to a lectionary.

NAB: I’d say it’s the second best translation on the market. Pity one can’t buy it without the crappy commentary.

JB: Can’t stand it. Why write out the Holy Name of God anyway? I’d rather err on the side of caution by following the lead of the NT writers by addressing him as LORD.

Knox: I picked one up for 50¢ once. I didn’t like it at all. Ended up throwing it in the bin.

Grail (Psalms): Ps 8:5 : … made him a little lower than the gods”???

Good News (Catholic Ed): How did this monstrosity get an imprimatur??? Check Mt 16:18, 1 Cor 11:29 for some blatant Protestantisms. I wonder if the Bishop Whealon actually read this translation before stamping his seal of approval over it.

Douey-Reims: Haven’t read it, but I still cant get how a second generation translation could possibly be ultra-accurate.

As for non-Catholic Bibles, I hear that the ESV is particularly good. COME ON BISHOPS! PETITION THE PUBLISHERS FOR A CATHOLIC EDITION! Same goes for a Catholic NASB. Why can’t Catholics have literal Bibles? (And no, the D.R. doesn’t count) Altho they are harder to understand, we are allowed to delve deeper into the meaning of the text than ‘easy’, superficial, dynamic equivalent ones. I suppose the proverb “No pain, no gain” would sum it up fairly well. I will probably invest in a Third Millennium Bible as this looks like it is the closest I shall ever be getting.
 
So far the RSV-CE is #1:clapping: for me, the Douay Rheims is #2:thumbsup: . I write alot in the margins and the RSV-CE really wasn’t made for that.😦 I can’t wait for the RSV-CE study bible to be released:whistle: , I hope it has lots of margin space to write in.🙂 These icons are pretty cool!
 
I must admit to using the New American Bible as this appears as the authorized one in use as exhibited by the readings at Mass. Previously, I had utilized a New Jerusalem Bible and an older Douay Reims Bible and prior to my return home, a King James and New Oxford. What will be my next purchase is up in the air now but I must admit that someone’s suggestion about Scripture Matters by Hahn is certainly intriguing me prior to buying another translation. He seems to turn on the light bulb more than other writers. After reading some of his works and listening to him on EWTN, I find myself thinking why didn’t I see this before.
 
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