As you can see, everyone’s going to have a slightly different opinion.
With respect to the New Testament, you won’t find a better English translation than the Confraternity. The language is somewhat old and the translation is based on the Vulgate, but the Confraternity’s retention of Aramaic phrases, orthodoxy, and traditional rendering of passages make it the best choice from a Catholic perspective (it’s also the closest to the Nova Vulgata). With respect to the Old Testament, the Confraternity is again the best translation out there. The only complete Old Testament Confraternity edition that I’m aware of was published in softbinding in 1969. Good luck finding it!
Many other readers have opined that the RSV-CE is a good translation. I don’t care for the RSV-CE. The RSV-CE translates Christ’s comment to St. Peter as “the powers of death” rather than “the gates of hell.” Pilate says to the crowd “Look at the man” instead of “Behold the man.” Aramaic and Hebrew phraseology is dropped where the Greek text retained it. Isaiah’s prophecy becomes “a young woman shall conceive” instead of “a virgin shall conceive.” And the list goes on and on. It may not bother some people, but it’s enough to interfere with my Bible reading.
