Which is your favorite Bible?

[itullian]

and why, thank you.

 

[svid2]

Usually the Douay-Rheims. I love the old-fashioned, ‘antique’ feel. And my edition has some good footnotes.

For a more modern translation, I like the New American Standard Bible. It’s. Just. So. PRETTY!

 

[Dave_B]

The New Internation Version (British text), popular contemporary Bible in clear English, and used in the Anglican church I attend.

 

[figs]

RSV 2nd CE also known as the ‘Ignatious Bible’.
The translation is very good and it’s a smooth read. Also has excellent footnotes.

 

[Jennet]

There are several I am very fond of. The first Bible I read through from cover to cover was a NIV Study Bible and I still consult this when something in the Old Testament is proving particularly opaque to my addled brain!

These days, I am more likely to be found with a copy of the RSV-CE in hand, and I am very comfortable with the language of it though I do miss the handy study notes at the bottom of each page. Therefore, I can hardly wait until there’s an Ignatius Study Bible that covers all of the Old Testament too!

Next time I do a complete read through, I might give the New Jerusalem Bible a whirl and see what I make of that.

 

[bmullins]

I still love the feel of the Douay Rheims and the KJV, just the way the words flow. But I use the RSV-CE myself for study. I just like the clarity of the words and the ease of understanding.

 

[annspazz]

I love my Ignatius RSV-CE study Bible…can’t wait for the OT. I use the New Oxford annotated NRSV with Apocrypha for OT stuff if I am looking for notes. The RSV is a good translation…easy to read.

This is a good reference if you are looking for the differences in translations:

catholic.com/tracts/bible-translations-guide

My husband has many Protestant translations…I do compare, but I try to stay with Catholic approved because of translation differences.

Hope this helps.

 

[thistle]

Douay Rheims with the Haydock Commentary.

 

[tritcher1988]

Favorite is the New Jerusalem Bible. Dynamic translation direct from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic originals. Reads smoothly and inuitive! Tolkien translates Job! Was recommended by a scholarly priest.

 

[thistle]

Favorite is the New Jerusalem Bible. Dynamic translation direct from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic originals. Reads smoothly and inuitive! Tolkien translates Job! Was recommended by a scholarly priest.

Aramaic originals?? Scripture was never originally written in Aramaic.

 

[tritcher1988]

Oh! Sorry thistle!

I must have been dreaming. Correction: translation from Hebrew and Greek originals.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

Aramaic originals?? Scripture was never originally written in Aramaic.

Parts of Daniel and Ezra are in Aramaic.

 

[itullian]

everyone has a different favorite…

 

[Shin]

I use the original Douay-Rheims, not the Challoner version, as the best resource for reading and study.

There’s a fellow who is a translator who has made some side-by-side comparisons that persuaded me on this.

An example of part of his work.

When I read the Bible and the saints, the original precise words matter. The saints use certain words, that are translated a particular way in English, and have a particular meaning that is directly found in the Holy Scriptures.

Emulation, for example, is a particular kind of sin, with its own definition. It is not the same thing as jealousy.

The Vulgate: Aemulationem, the Original Douay: Emulation, the Challoner: Jealousy.

Benignity is a particular virtue.

The Vulgate: Benigna, The Douai: Benign, the Challoner: Comeliness

And so on:

Vulgate, Original, Challoner

Damnationis, Damnation, Condemnation
Virtute, Virtue, Power
Evangelizare, Evangelize, Preach
Judiciam, Judgement, Law
Filiorum, Sons, Children
Infideles, Infidels, Unbeleivers
Mala, Evil, Harm
Honestum, Honest, Decent
Judaizare, Judaize, Live as do the Jews
Catechizatur, Catechized, Instructed
Blasphemamur, Blasphemed, Slandered
Sacramenti, Sacrament, Mystery

I don’t think you need to know Latin to see what’s occuring.

… When I read the Bible, and the Latin Vulgate says ‘Sacrament’, I want to read ‘Sacrament’ not ‘Mystery’. That’s what I expect out of Catholic Bible. I don’t want the Catholic language expurgated.

And this sort of thing goes on and on. The link contains a list. And so, this is one example, of the reasons why, among others, to use the original Douai.

The original Douai uses older English, including older English letters, which one can swiftly adjust to, it is not difficult. There is also a recent version with updated spelling, otherwise unaltered.

 

[CMatt25]

I currently own a large print GNT with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha bearing the Imprimatur of the National Conference of Catholic bishops and a NKJV. I’ve also had Douay Rheims . I do like the New International Version however for one without the Apocrypha as I find it a nice middle ground of language. With its language flow not as “old school” for reading but not as modern as say the GNT. The New Living Translation is another for a similar reason. If I however were purchasing another available with the Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha, perhaps it would be the NRSV.

 

[annspazz]

When I read the Bible and the saints, the original precise words matter. The saints use certain words, that are translated a particular way in English, and have a particular meaning that is directly found in the Holy Scriptures.

Thank you for the link…great information. I remember reading that the Latin Vulgate has several translations as well. Do you know which translation your Douay-Rheims is translated from? And do you have a link to where I can find a copy of your version (I believe I have a Challoner version).just curious.

 

[CalCatholic]

My favorite Bible is the** Ignatius RSV-2CE giant print in burgundy bonded leather,** but it has not been published yet. I have been waiting for 6 years, who knows maybe one day (or year) they will have pity on my poor soul (and eyes) and publish it:shrug:.

 

[Qoeleth]

The KVJ. It is written in Good English, and is faithful to the original.

 

[thistle]

The KVJ. It is written in Good English,** and is faithful to the original**.

Faithful to the original what?

 

[Shin]

Shin;9150252:

Thank you for the link…great information. I remember reading that the Latin Vulgate has several translations as well. Do you know which translation your Douay-Rheims is translated from? And do you have a link to where I can find a copy of your version (I believe I have a Challoner version).just curious.

There’s a free facsimile PDF version of it here. For a clean printed copy, and/or electronic copy with or without contemporary spelling, here are two places.

Which Vulgate? For what it’s worth, from what I have read, one of the people working on it also worked on the Clementine – so both from before and after the Clementine revisions of St. Jerome’s c. 385 A.D. Vulgate, the standard for over a thousand years, and given authority at the Council of Trent.