kimvall

I only know English so perhaps the King James Bible a good option?

I tried posting a link to an edition on Amazon.com but alas, I hadn't posted enough (to put it short; links to amazon.com, etc, are welcome!).

I'm not a collector, I just want a good translation of the texts, so a blasphemous paperback will do just fine.

brettpalmer

NRSV has always been my copy of choice.

John Kesler

It's good to compare how various versions translate passages. Three pretty good versions are available on the Internet:

New Revised Standard Version

New American Bible

New Jerusalem Bible

The KJV is a beautiful translation, but at the time of its completion, some manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS), had not been discovered. Too, many people find the KJV difficult to read because of its archaic language.

Julio

I like and make regular use of the New Scofield Reference Bible [which is basically the KJV annotated and amended by that scholar], for its many footnotes, but www.e-sword.com will provide you with many different versions [it does not have the Scofield though, or even the NIV].

DCHindley

Most folks (moderates, whether center field or leaning a little liberal or conservative) use the NRSV (or the RSV if you object to the gender neutrality in the NRSV). These versions are basically intended for worship, although some good Study Bibles are based on them (like the Oxford Study Bible). I have a NAB (New American Bible) that has a study bible version that reflects modern scholarship from a Catholic perspective, and is actually petty good. If you want a literal translation, the NASB (New American Standard

Conservatives who are not necessarily Fundamentalists often use the NIV.

Fundamentalists almost always use the KJV (aka Authorized Version in the United Kingdom) or the NKJV (basically the same but updates the archaic language).



Here is a list of translations.

NASB New American Standard Bible (1971; update 1995)

AMP Amplified Bible (1965)

ESV English Standard Version (2001)

RSV Revised Standard Version (1952)

KJV King James Version (1611; significantly revised 1769)

NKJV New King James Version (1982)

HCSB Holman Christian Standard Version (2004)

NRSV New Revised Standard Version (1989)

NAB New American Bible (Catholic, 1970, 1986 (NT), 1991 (Psalms)

NJB New Jerusalem Bible

NIV New International Version (1984)

TNIV Today’s New International Version (NT 2001, OT 2005)

NCV New Century Version

NLT1 New Living Translation (1st ed. 1996; 2nd ed. 2004)

NIrV New International reader’s Version

GNT Good News Translation (also Good News Bible)

CEV Contemporary English Version

Living Living Bible (1950). Paraphrase by Ken Taylor. Liberal treatment of ‘blood.’

Message The Message by Eugene Peterson (1991-2000s)

DCH

kimvall

Thanks everyone for the fast and informative replies.

storytime

Let's not forget the LARGE print version for those of us who no longer have 20/20 vision, and sound paper quality that allows highlighter usage. I also hate those bibles with thin pages that tear easily. And I refuse to purchase another bible so some Christian, one with an extra $65 or so might offer one up, but that's highly unlikely. That "freely you received so freely give" is not a Christian normality. :cheeky: Besides, they want me to go to hell where I supposedly belong. :lol:

Newfie

Depends also if you are Catholic, in which case you'll need a translation which includes the deuterocanonical books.

Petergdi

IME many (possibly most) churches will give you a Bible if you ask. They may not have a large print one on hand, but large print Bibles are available for much less than your price.

Peter.

dog-on

You could always just write your own.

Everyone else seems to...