Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide

Depending on your answers to the questions in this guide, you may have identified one or more of the Bibles listed in this section as a translation that may be suited to your needs. Some Other Historically Significant and Specialty Bibles are discussed in a different section.

Each Bible is listed along with a brief description. When copyright provisions permit, text samples are also included. You can find Copyrighted Information at the end of this guide. The text samples mimic the verse numbering, line breaks, and indents used within the Bible they are representing. When sample text is not provided, you may be able to obtain it from an online portal (such as these websites: http://BibleGateway.com, BibleSearch, or http://BibleStudyTools.com) or from the publisher's website.

The text samples are taken from four different passages, two from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. To help facilitate comparison, these passages were selected to show a variety of writing styles. The Old Testament passages illustrate a narrative passage and a poetic passage. The New Testament passages include some of the most familiar words in the Bible and a complex passage focused on issues of theology and doctrine. Many of the Bibles discussed also include notes, but for the purpose of comparing the text, the notes are not included.

These are the passages used to compare the translations:

1 Samuel 17:33–35: This snippet of Old Testament narrative is taken from the account of David's fight against Goliath. The entire story is much longer than these few verses.
Isaiah 60:1–3: This poetic passage from the book of Isaiah features rich symbolic language.
Matthew 6:9–10: These verses are the opening passages of what is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer."
Romans 5:1–3: This passage is from Paul's letter to the people in Rome, in which he discusses important matters of faith.

You can use the following list to jump to information about a specific translation or you can scroll through them all. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Amplified Bible was produced by the Lockman Foundation (the same group that also produces the New American Standard Bible). It is based on the 1901 text of the American Standard Version, and although it is essentially a literal (word-for-word) translation, the text incorporates synonyms and other terms to help expand, clarify, and define ("amplify") the words of the Biblical text. The Amplified Bible was originally published in 1965, and it was updated in 1987.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go to fight against this Philistine. You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth.

34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock,

35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. (AMP)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (AMP)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (AMP)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

2 Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. (AMP)

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, The Literal Side of the Continuum, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

Basic English is a form of English featuring a limited vocabulary of the most frequently used words. The Bible in Basic English was translated during the 1940s by Samuel Henry Hooke, who used a vocabulary of just 1,000 words. These included 850 words in the Basic English lexicon and 150 additional Biblical and poetic words. The text is available through the BibleStudyTools.com portal (http://www.biblestudytools.com/bbe).

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Easy Bibles, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

Common English Bible (CEB)

This version was funded by the Church Resources Development Corp, an organization that works to help achieve interdenominational cooperation among Christian publishers. It is offered for sale through Abingdon Press. The text was translated by a team of 120 translators from 24 denominations. Their goal was to produce a version that presented the scripture in common 21^st-century English. The translation team also worked with a team of reading specialists to help ensure ease of readability. Sample text is available from http://www.commonenglishbible.com, and the full text can be accessed at http://BibleGateway.com.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Gender-Neutral Language, The Thought-for-Thought Side of the Continuum, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, Apocrypha, or to The Initial Question.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Contemporary English Bible was produced by the American Bible Society and originally published in 1995. Its translators focused on producing a version of the Bible that could be easily understood by children in elementary school and by people for whom English is a second language. The text is available from http://BibleGateway.com.

The WatchWORD Bible is a DVD series that presents the CEV text of the New Testament in video form. For more information about the American Bible Society visit http://www.americanbible.org.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 "You don't have a chance against him," Saul replied. "You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life."

34 But David told him:

Your Majesty, I take care of my father's sheep. And when one of them is dragged off by a lion or a bear, 35 I go after it and beat the wild animal until it lets the sheep go. If the wild animal turns and attacks me, I grab it by the throat and kill it. (CEV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Jerusalem, stand up! Shine!

Your new day is dawning.

The glory of the Lord

shines brightly on you.

2 The earth and its people

are covered with darkness,

but the glory of the Lord

is shining upon you.

3 Nations and kings will come to the light

of your dawning day. (CEV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 You should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

help us to honor

your name.

10 Come and set up

your kingdom,

so that everyone on earth

will obey you,

as you are obeyed

in heaven. (CEV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. 2 Christ has also introduced us to God's gift of undeserved kindness on which we now take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. 3 But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. (CEV)

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

The English edition of the Easy-to-Read Version translation was published in 2006 by BibleLeague International (© World Bible Translation Center). BibleLeague International is working toward the goal of producing easy-to-read versions of the scriptures in 100 of the world's most commonly spoken languages. For more information, visit http://www.bibleleague.org.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, Easy Bibles, or to The Initial Question.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV, published by Crossway Bibles (a division of Good News Publishers), describes itself as "essentially literal." It retains traditional, gendered terms and uses established terms for Christian doctrinal concepts (such as grace and sanctification). ESV was compiled by a multinational team of 95 scholars and teachers representing a variety of different denominations. For more information, visit http://www.esvbible.org.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. (ESV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising. (ESV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven. (ESV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (ESV)

God's Word (GW)

God's Word was published in 1995 by God's Word to the Nations; it is currently available through Baker Publishing Group. Its translators focused on developing a readable text following principles they termed as "closest natural equivalence." The text's goal is to communicate in English the same way native English speakers would communicate with each another. Translators avoided the use of theological jargon (traditionally used words that may not be clear to contemporary English speakers). The translation uses gender-inclusive language in instances where the original texts discussed people in general. For more information, visit http://www.godswordtranslation.org.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 Saul responded to David, "You can't fight this Philistine. You're just a boy, but he's been a warrior since he was your age."

34 David replied to Saul, "I am a shepherd for my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it. (GW)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise! Shine! Your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has dawned.

2 Darkness now covers the earth,

and thick darkness covers the nations.

But the Lord dawns,

and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn. (GW)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 "This is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

let your name be kept holy.

10 Let your kingdom come.

Let your will be done on earth

as it is done in heaven. (GW)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Now that we have God's approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. 2 Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. So we brag because of our confidence that we will receive glory from God. 3 But that's not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance (GW)

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, The Use of Traditional, Gendered Terms, The Thought-for-Thought Side of the Continuum, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, Easy Bibles, or to The Initial Question.

Good News Translation (GNT)

This version, which is also sometimes called Today's English Version (TEV) was produced by the American Bible Society and originally published in 1976. Its translators focused on producing a version that was clear to modern readers. Through the work of the American Bible Society, this text serves as the basis for translations into many languages other than English. A second edition was issued in 1992. For more information, visit http://www.americanbible.org.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 "No," answered Saul. "How could you fight him? You're just a boy, and he has been a soldier all his life!"

34 "Your Majesty," David said, "I take care of my father's sheep. Any time a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, 35 I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death. (GNT)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like the sun;

The glory of the Lord is shining on you!

2 Other nations will be covered by darkness,

But on you the light of the Lord will shine;

The brightness of his presence will be with you.

3 Nations will be drawn to your light,

And kings to the dawning of your new day. (GNT)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; 10 may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (GNT)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 He has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God's glory! 3 We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, (GNT)

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The HCSB was published by Holman Bible Publishers in 2004 and updated 2009. Its stated goal was to create a translation for 21^st-century English that found the optimal, middle ground between translations that were more literal (word-for-word) and those that were more idiomatic (thought-for-thought). Many traditional theological terms were retained because the translators felt modern terms were less precise. In addition, translators sought also to preserve gender terms in accordance to their original use while avoiding the use of unnecessary masculine pronouns. Additional information about HCSB can be found online at http://hcsb.org, and the complete text is available at http://MyStudyBible.com.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 But Saul replied, "You can't go fight this Philistine. You're just a youth, and he's been a warrior since he was young."

34 David answered Saul: "Your servant has been tending his father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it,struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. (HCSB)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord shines over you.

2 For look, darkness covers the earth,

and total darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will shine over you,

and His glory will appear over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your radiance. (HCSB)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 "Therefore, you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

Your name be honored as holy.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven. (HCSB)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, (HCSB)

Inclusive Bible (IB)

The Inclusive Bible was produced by a group called Priests for Equality. It was originally published in 2007 by Sheed and Ward Books, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield. An additional edition was released in 2009. This translation, which features egalitarian language, was edited to avoid language related to gender and class distinctions. This was done to remove language barriers—especially those perceived as sexist—that may keep modern people from understanding biblical truths. For more information, visit the Rowman and Littlefield website at https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781580512138.

King James Version (KJV)

The King James Version of the Bible may be the best-known of all the English translations. It was commissioned by (and named for) King James of England in the early seventeenth century. The KJV was created by a team of scholars who drew on past English translations and original-language documents. The Hebrew Masoretic Text, especially the version published in the sixteenth century by Jacob ben Chayyim, was used as the basis for the Old Testament. The KJV translators also relied on the Greek Septuagint for the books of the Apocrypha and and Greek manuscripts in the family known as Textus Receptus for the New Testament. The KJV is also sometimes called the Authorized Version because of its status as the first officially sanctioned English translation. The KJV is widely available online and in print form.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (KJV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (KJV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (KJV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (KJV)

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Bibles Based on Textus Receptus, Apocrypha, or to The Initial Question.

Living Bible (LB)

The Living Bible is a paraphrase of the Old and New Testaments. It was written by Kenneth Taylor in 1971 to make Scriptures easier to understand. Rather than attempting to mimic the original languages, this volume rewrites the content in a modern idiom and expands on concepts when necessary to make the meaning clear for contemporary readers. In 1996, the New Living Translation (NLT) was created following the LB's format, but the NLT is an actual translation rather than a paraphrase. The full text of the Living Bible can be accessed via http://BibleGateway.com.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Paraphrases, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

The Message (MSG)

This text is a paraphrase written by Eugene Peterson and first published in 2002. Its purpose is to help readers experience the "vitality and directness" that the original hearers would have felt. In order to facilitate reading, this paraphrase frequently combines verses and makes some rearrangement of the content to facilitate ease of reading. The excerpts here are given to represent parallel passages to other Bibles listed, but the specific breakdown of how verses are presented is sometimes not exact.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced—and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."

34-35 David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. (MSG)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1-2 "Get out of bed, Jerusalem!

Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.

God's bright glory has risen for you.

The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,

all people sunk in deep darkness,

But God rises on you,

his sunrise glory breaks over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,

kings to your sunburst brightness. (MSG)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,

10 Reveal who you are.

Set the world right;

Do what's best—

as above, so below. (MSG)

Romans 5:1–3

1-2 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

3 There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, (MSG)

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Paraphrases, Easy Bibles, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

NET Bible (New English Translation)

The NET Bible was first published in 2005. It features more than 60,000 notes explaining textual variations and the reasons translators made the choices they did. Gender-neutral terms are used to refer to people when the context of the original text suggests that males and females were intended. The NET Bible is available in its entirety as a free download or for online web use at http://netbible.org.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 But Saul replied to David, "You aren't able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You're just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!"

34 David replied to Saul, "Your servant has been a shepherd for his father's flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, 35 I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. (NET)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 "Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor of the Lord shines on you!

2 For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers the nations,

but the Lord shines on you;

his splendor appears over you.

3 Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light. (NET)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 So pray this way:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,

10 may your kingdom come,

may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (NET)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God's glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (NET)

New American Bible (NAB)

Published in 2011, this translation is officially sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church. Although it follows in the tradition of the Vulgate and the Douay-Rheims Bible (the first Catholic version of the Bible available in English), its interdenominational translation team of fifty scholars relied on modern methods of textual criticism and the oldest available sacred manuscripts to create a translation intended to serve all Christians. The text is available through the American Bible Society's online portal at http://bibles.org.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The team of translators who produced the NASB followed a philosophy of producing the most literal (word-for-word) translation possible while still being readable by modern English speakers. The text follows the style of the King James Version but relies on the Hebrew and Greek sources deemed the most reliable by modern scholarship. It maintains the tradition of using capital letters for pronouns that refer to God and Jesus (that is, He and His). The Bible was prepared under the direction of the Lockman Foundation, and the first edition was completed in 1971. An updated version, focused on improving readability and incorporating gender inclusiveness, was released in 1995.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. (NASB)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come,

And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth

And deep darkness the peoples;

But the Lord will rise upon you

And His glory will appear upon you.

3 "Nations will come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising. (NASB)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 "Pray, then, in this way:

'Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 'Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven. (NASB)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (NASB)

New Cambridge Paragraph Bible (NCPB)

The New Cambridge Paragraph Bible was edited by David Norton and published by Cambridge University Press in 2005. This Bible presents the traditional King James Version (KJV) text, based on the 1611 version, with an emphasis on standardizing spelling and punctuation for modern readers. It retains the KJV reliance on Textus Receptus as the basis for the New Testament. Additional information is available from Cambridge University Press at http://www.cambridge.org/bibles/kjv/ncpb.htm.

New Century Version (NCV)

The New Century Version is published by Thomas Nelson. Translated by a team from the World Bible Translation Center and other Bible scholars using a limited vocabulary, NCV is a translation made especially for young readers. A gender-neutral version was published in 1991.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 Saul answered, "You can't go out against this Philistine and fight him. You're only a boy. Goliath has been a warrior since he was a young man."

34 But David said to Saul, "I, your servant, have been keeping my father's sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a sheep from the flock, 35 I would chase it. I would attack it and save the sheep from its mouth. When it attacked me, I caught it by its fur and hit it and killed it. (NCV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 "Jerusalem, get up and shine, because your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord shines on you.

2 Darkness now covers the earth;

deep darkness covers her people.

But the Lord shines on you,

and people see his glory around you.

3 Nations will come to your light;

kings will come to the brightness of your sunrise. (NCV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 So when you pray, you should pray like this:

'Our Father in heaven,

may your name always be kept holy.

10 May your kingdom come

and what you want be done,

here on earth as it is in heaven. (NCV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 who through our faith has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory. 3 We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. (NCV)

New International Readers Version (NIrV)

The New International Readers Version (NIrV) is based on the New International Version, but it is edited for a third-grade reading level. It uses simple vocabulary, giving preference to shorter words and short sentences. Difficult terms are explained within the text. Additional information and access to the text is available from the publisher, Biblica, at http://www.biblica.com.

New International Version (NIV)

The New International Version is one of the most well-known contemporary translations of the Bible. The initial work was done by a committee of evangelical translators known as the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT). The first edition's New Testament was published in 1973 followed by the entire Bible in 1978. An update was published in 1984, followed by an additional update in 2011. The 2011 edition incorporates changes in how the text handles gender issues. A summary of the differences and the rationale behind the changes can be found on the CBT's website, http://www.niv-cbt.org. Additional information and access to the text is available from the publisher, Biblica, at http://www.biblica.com.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, The Use of Traditional, Gendered Terms, Gender-Neutral Language, The Thought-for-Thought Side of the Continuum, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)

The New Jerusalem Bible, a Roman Catholic edition of the scriptures which was published in 1985, is an update of an earlier volume called the Jerusalem Bible which was published in 1966. The Jerusalem Bible was based on the model established by a French translation (Bible de Jérusalem, originally published in 1956 and subsequently updated in 1973). In preparing for the NJB, however, a team of scholars created a new translation directly from the ancient Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts. The full text is available online from Catholic Online at http://www.catholic.org/bible.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Published by Thomas Nelson in 1982, the New King James Version is a contemporary Bible based on the legacy of the King James Version (KJV). Its translators sought to maintain the translation philosophies of their predecessors while making the scripture accessible to contemporary readers. Some of the retained features include using traditional doctrinal terms, adhering to literal renderings except where doing so would confuse the meaning, and considering the language's sense of rhythm and literary quality. One of the differences involves the use of modernized vocabulary, pronouns, and verb forms.

A major distinction between the NKJV and the traditional KJV, however, is in its broader use of ancient texts. For the Old Testament text, the NKJV relies on the Masoretic Text represented in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (published in 1977) with supplementary information drawn from other manuscripts, including versions of the Masoretic Text that were available to the original King James Version translators, the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. For the New Testament, NKJV relies on Textus Receptus, as did its famous predecessor, but NKJV also offers marginal notes about variant readings in other ancient manuscripts.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. (NKJV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising. (NKJV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven. (NKJV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (NKJV)

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Bibles Based on Textus Receptus, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, or to The Initial Question.

New Life Version (NLV)

The New Life Version was published in 1969 by Christian Literature International. The translators' goal was to produce an English-language Bible suitable for new readers and for people for whom English was a second language. The translation maintains traditional gender-related terms and it maintains the practice of capitalizing pronouns that refer to God. The text is presented in a formal manner that does not use contractions. Ambiguous words, theological terms, and other items that may be confusing are explained within the text. Measurements with unfamiliar units are converted to equivalents intended to be meaningful across diverse cultures. Additional information about the NLV is available from the publisher at http://www.christianliteratureinternational.org. The text can be accessed online through http://BibleGateway.com.

New Living Translation (NLT)

The New Living Translation, which is officially titled Holy Bible, New Living Translation, was first published in 1996 by Tyndale House Foundation. Subsequent revisions were released in 2004 and 2007. Its translators focused on creating an easy-to-read version that used common, everyday English vocabulary. Some of the practices the translators used to facilitate comprehension include adding text to clarify cultural practices or metaphorical language and converting measurements, currencies, and dates to modern equivalents. In addition, the NLT uses gender-inclusive language when the text refers to people whose gender is unknown or when it speaks about humanity or the human condition in general.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 "Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth."

34 But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. (NLT)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 "Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.

For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.

2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,

but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

3 All nations will come to your light;

mighty kings will come to see your radiance. (NLT)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

10 May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven. (NLT)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (NLT)

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The New Revised Standard Version was published in 1989 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ. It updates the older Revised Standard Version (RSV), which was itself an update of the American Standard Version (1901). The ASV was an update of the Authorized Version (that is, the King James Version). Although the translation shares a common legacy with the KJV, its text relies on more recently discovered source documents. The Old Testament text is founded primarily on Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia with the use of other documents for the Apocrypha text. Its New Testament text relies on the Critical Text as represented in the 27th edition of Nestle and Aland's work and published by the United Bible Society in The New Testament in Greek, Fourth Edition. The NRSV translation was made by a team representing a broad range of denominational perspectives. Although they primarily followed a literal translation philosophy, the goal of literalness was tempered by a desire to bring accuracy and clarity to obscure passages, to follow contemporary English forms, and to use gender-inclusive language where the intention of the original text was to include all people irrespective of their gender.

1 Samuel 17:33–35

33 Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. (NRSV)

Isaiah 60:1–3

1 Arise, shine; for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will appear over you.

3 Nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (NRSV)

Matthew 6:9–10

9 "Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven. (NRSV)

Romans 5:1–3

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (NRSV)

Orthodox Study Bible (OSB)

The Orthodox Canon considers the Septuagint—a Greek version of the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament)—to be authoritative rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text. The Orthodox Study Bible is the first complete Bible in English to offer a translation of the Old Testament text from the Septuagint. Its New Testament text is based on the New King James Version. Commentary accompanying the text explains the Orthodox perspective. The OSB was published by Thomas Nelson in 2008.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Orthodox Canon, Septuagint, Bibles Based on the Critical Text, Study Bibles, or to The Initial Question.

Revised English Bible (REB)

The Revised English Bible, an update of the New English Bible, was prepared especially for English-speaking churches in the United Kingdom. Its translators sought to create a text that was fluent for modern readers but that also maintained a formality suitable for public reading during liturgical church services. The text uses familiar pronouns (you instead of thou) and heeds concerns about gender by using inclusive terms when doing so did not violate the dictates of scholarship. The REB was published in 1989 by Cambridge University Press. More information is available from the publisher at http://www.cambridge.org/bibles/bible-versions/revised-english-bible.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB)

Third Millennium Bible, published in 1998 by Dueul Enterprises, Inc. (Gary, South Dakota), is a version of the 21^st Century King James Version (KJ21) that includes the books of the Apocrypha. Additional information is available online at http://www.tmbible.com.

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

Today's New International Version was published by Biblica in 2005. Its text is based on the New International Version (NIV), but it features updated vocabulary for contemporary readers, including attention to gender-neutral expressions in passages referring to people. The textual adjustments incorporated in TNIV were refined and incorporated into the NIV beginning with the 2011 edition. Additional information is available from the publisher at http://www.biblica.com.

21^st Century King James Version (KJ21)

Published in 1994 by Dueul Enterprises, Inc. (Gary, South Dakota), the 21^st Century King James Version, retains the text and literary form of the original King James Version, but it updates confusing archaic language and standardizes spelling and punctuation. The text is not a new translation from the original languages, but a reworking of the KJV itself. The KJ21 text can be accessed at http://BibleGateway.com, and additional information is available online at http://www.kj21.com.

If you would like to explore other options, you can return to the Summary of the Modern-Era English Bibles Discussed in This Guide, Bibles Based on Textus Receptus, or to The Initial Question.

The Voice (VOICE)

The Voice is translation that seeks to present the thoughts of the original biblical writings in contemporary forms so that modern readers can receive those thoughts in an equivalent way. It presents scripture in narrative form, like a story, in an attempt to recreate the kind of encounter original audiences would have experienced. The Voice was published by Thomas Nelson. Additional information is available online at http://www.hearthevoice.com, and the text can be accessed through http://BibleGateway.com.