Which Bible version (translation) do you usually read from?

Question

For example... NAS, NIV, King James, etc.

I prefer the time tested KJV myself... A literal translation is preferable in my view. I think some of the others take too many liberties in areas. I don't get bent out of shape if someone reads a different version, but from my research, the KJV is the closest English translation to the Greek and Hebrew texts.

Answer 1

I prefer reading directly from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Answer 2

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Why? because it's an honest unbias translation.

Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:
"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."

New Testament:

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:
King James Version,
New American Standard Bible,
New International Version,
New Revised Standard Version,
New American Bible,
Amplified Bible,
Today's English Version (Good News Bible),
Living Bible,
and the New World Translation.
The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:

John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1

Thank you, and happy reading!
Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University

Answer 3

Do you really know Greek and Hebrew? I have about 12 different versions (translations) and when I first began seriously studying the Bible about 1981, I used about 7 of them to look up every scripture I wanted to know about to make sure that one of them would not mislead me into untruth. Now, my favorite is the New World Translation but I still regularly use the KJV (NOT the new one but the 1611), the NIV, the American Standard (NOT the newly revised) and the New Jerusalem Bible. Sometimes it is just a matter of wanting a more poetic way to express myself. Always it helps to clarify God's thoughts.

Answer 4

King James Version.

Answer 5

I like the new King James. I have a parallel New Testament that has the original unedited Greek, alongside the King James version and it is very very close. I think the NIV takes a few too many liberties.

Answer 6

I prefer the King James version although I keep a NIV translation as well.

Answer 7

The originial King James Version.

Answer 8

I used to read mostly from the NIV, but recently discovered that I prefer the NLT. I keep several versions around so that if I need further clarification, I can read in a different translation. That usually helps tremendously. The NIV, NLT, and NCV are the easiest for me to read, as they seem to be in "plain English".

Answer 9

I am very curious about this question. Why do you ask it? Do you recognize that there are inherent differences that affect meaning? If so, what does it mean when you make your choice? Are you choosing a version that will give an interpretation that is in line with what you have already been taught...what you want to believe...what you are told to read???

Knowing that there are differences, does this make you ask the questions I have asked: How can I know that I am getting actual information from God when there are so many human elements that interfere with straightforward revelation? If the holy spirit guides us into our choice of theology, then that must mean that all others are wrong??

I encourage you to sit quietly all by yourself and think about this seriously.

Peace and love to you.

Answer 10

I read from a Women's Devotional Bible which is NIV. It's better to read anything than to be without. Sometimes I leave the Bible at home, so I use whatever is available on www.biblegateway.com or whichever is nearby at church.

The New Believer's Bible is simple and plain.