What is your favorite Bible translation besides the NWT?

Dorothea

Well-known member
I still prefer the NWT, but I want to start checking other translations more often too, and was wondering if you guys had any favorites. I don't want to use one that is highly biased or inaccurate. I know they're all biased and all have mistakes, but I would like to find one or several that are more or less reliable.
 

Outcast

Member
IMO:

For accuracy: ESV, NASB, the good ol' KJV, and (probably the most important) a Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Interlinear coupled with a good dictionary of biblical words

For readability: ESV (again), NIV, TLB, NLT

(TLB, surprisingly, uses Jehovah's Name a few hundred times; NIV & NLT aren't always accurate but often convey difficult passages well - tho' one must check before basing doctrinal belief on them)
 

BagdadBill

Well-known member
King James. My first bible was KJV and I like the poetic sound of it. I have an audio book version of it that is considered the best there is. It is free on Internet Archive. I think that’s where I found it. The man who narrated it did it perfectly I feel. He said something to the effect that it was the ultimate high point of his entire career. He certainly had the voice for it and it is enjoyable to hear him read God’s word. After KJV I would say NIV although I am aware of some issues. My oldest copy of KJV, I got when I was 10 years old as a gift from the Baptist church. In the back, it explains the tetragrammaton and divine name as well as an admission that everywhere you see the word LORD in all caps, it was originally Jehovah’s name.
 

The God Pill

Well-known member
1984 NWT, the old edition of the American standard version with the divine name, Kingdom Interlinear, Brenton's Septuagint, dead sea scrolls fragments, Cepher bible. Once I finish this time through the second half of NWT Romans I'm going to get back to the Septuagint version of Jeremiah.

Aramaic Targums are midrashic in nature so more a supplement than the more literal translations listed when I'm done with the Targums I'll check out the Samaritan Pentateuch while it's supposed to have some inacuracies reflecting Samaritan views apparently many of it's non minor spelling associated contrasts from the Masoretic text line up with the Septuagint and dead sea scrolls.
 

The God Pill

Well-known member
IMO:

For accuracy: ESV, NASB, the good ol' KJV, and (probably the most important) a Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Interlinear coupled with a good dictionary of biblical words

For readability: ESV (again), NIV, TLB, NLT

(TLB, surprisingly, uses Jehovah's Name a few hundred times; NIV & NLT aren't always accurate but often convey difficult passages well - tho' one must check before basing doctrinal belief on them)
I haven't read a lot of ESV but from what ive seen in the past they did a good job on Genesis.
 

Jah-son

Well-known member
I don't know about accuracy but i used to enjoy the Good News bible. Its easy to read and contains Jehovah's name.
The Good News Translation was first published in 1976 by the American Bible Society in a "common language." The simple, everyday language makes it especially popular for children and those learning English.



This modern version of the Bible in mid-20th century American English, prepared by a group of American biblical scholars, is also known as the Good News Bible. Taking advantage of the many archaeological and manuscript discoveries as well as the insights of linguistic and biblical scholarship since the 16th century it was designed to meet the needs of a world-wide explosion of evangelism in a secular world where English had become the dominant international language and a familiarity with traditional theological terminology could not be assumed. Its style avoids the looseness of paraphrase as it translates the deep structures of the text in its original languages. This pioneering version has set the pattern for innumerable new translations and revisions of the Bible in other languages as well as in English. Over 40 million copies of the Good News Biblehave been distributed world-wide since its first printing.

Special thanks to The American Bible Society for permission to use the Good News Translation of the Holy Bible
 

Dorothea

Well-known member
1984 NWT, the old edition of the American standard version with the divine name, Kingdom Interlinear, Brenton's Septuagint, dead sea scrolls fragments, Cepher bible. Once I finish this time through the second half of NWT Romans I'm going to get back to the Septuagint version of Jeremiah.

Aramaic Targums are midrashic in nature so more a supplement than the more literal translations listed when I'm done with the Targums I'll check out the Samaritan Pentateuch while it's supposed to have some inacuracies reflecting Samaritan views apparently many of it's non minor spelling associated contrasts from the Masoretic text line up with the Septuagint and dead sea scrolls.
I have recently gone back to the 1984 edition of the NWT. I find that I do prefer it. I always felt lost with the new edition because it has so few cross references. I also use the Kingdom Interlinear quite a lot. It's sometimes very eye-opening.
 

יהוה_saves

Well-known member
I still prefer the NWT, but I want to start checking other translations more often too, and was wondering if you guys had any favorites. I don't want to use one that is highly biased or inaccurate. I know they're all biased and all have mistakes, but I would like to find one or several that are more or less reliable.
Hi @Dorothea

I prefer the NWT because it easy for me to access but i have a really nice hard copy edition of the NIV that my sister gave me along with these cool highlighter pens specially made for super thin paper that i really love. I highlighted some entire books with them. haha.
 

Dorothea

Well-known member
Hi @Dorothea

I prefer the NWT because it easy for me to access but i have a really nice hard copy edition of the NIV that my sister gave me along with these cool highlighter pens specially made for super thin paper that i really love. I highlighted some entire books with them. haha.
I have the Good News New Testament. I also have the Living Bible, which is a paraphrase, so it's not something I would rely on. I used to pick of whatever translations I could find at thrift stores. I guess those two must be popular. I'm just happy we have things like biblehub.com which has so many free translations and study tools.
 

יהוה_saves

Well-known member
I have the Good News New Testament. I also have the Living Bible, which is a paraphrase, so it's not something I would rely on. I used to pick of whatever translations I could find at thrift stores. I guess those two must be popular. I'm just happy we have things like biblehub.com which has so many free translations and study tools.
you’re right- we are very blessed to have so many bible study tools at our fingertips.

when i first found e-watchman i was comparing the scriptures cited in his articles with the NIV that my sister gave me- and i only used that for awhile (some months) until i felt comfortable using the NWT. To be honest i use the NWT pretty much exclusively now because it’s just easier.
 

Dorothea

Well-known member
you’re right- we are very blessed to have so many bible study tools at our fingertips.

when i first found e-watchman i was comparing the scriptures cited in his articles with the NIV that my sister gave me- and i only used that for awhile (some months) until i felt comfortable using the NWT. To be honest i use the NWT pretty much exclusively now because it’s just easier.
Like I mentioned above, I've now gone back to the 1984 edition of NWT. I feel most comfortable with that. I want to see Jehovah's name where it belongs. And I love all the study tools in the reference bible, the big one.
 

The God Pill

Well-known member
King James. My first bible was KJV and I like the poetic sound of it. I have an audio book version of it that is considered the best there is. It is free on Internet Archive. I think that’s where I found it. The man who narrated it did it perfectly I feel. He said something to the effect that it was the ultimate high point of his entire career. He certainly had the voice for it and it is enjoyable to hear him read God’s word. After KJV I would say NIV although I am aware of some issues. My oldest copy of KJV, I got when I was 10 years old as a gift from the Baptist church. In the back, it explains the tetragrammaton and divine name as well as an admission that everywhere you see the word LORD in all caps, it was originally Jehovah’s name.
A previous kingdom hall I went to had a King James Bible with Jehovah restored throughout the OT.
 

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kirmmy

Well-known member
I'm on my second pass with The Bible in Living English. Not because I really like it but because my NWT is the tiny one and tough for me to read now.:cry:


It has God's holy name in it, well at least in the Hebrew Scriptures....

I'm simply not going to read a Bible (daily) without God's name in it, so it's back to the NWT when I can pick one up. Other Bibles are good for understanding scriptures and cross-referencing.
A previous kingdom hall I went to had a King James Bible with Jehovah restored throughout the OT.
Thanks God Pill, I'll check that one out.
 

The God Pill

Well-known member
I'm on my second pass with The Bible in Living English. Not because I really like it but because my NWT is the tiny one and tough for me to read now.:cry:


It has God's holy name in it, well at least in the Hebrew Scriptures....

I'm simply not going to read a Bible (daily) without God's name in it, so it's back to the NWT when I can pick one up. Other Bibles are good for understanding scriptures and cross-referencing.

Thanks God Pill, I'll check that one out.
Cephar bible has a version of god's name wherever the tetragrammaton occurs though they interpret the letters as Yahuah physical copies are pricey but all texts of the protestant canon are free on there app.
 

Paz

Well-known member
My nwt large print 1984 edition, Bible concordance, NIV reference Life application bible, and the GN version. Certain words have been changed in the 2013 updated version of the nwt. Shun appears 3 times yet in most versions it’s avoid. I use about ten versions regularly. They also deleted a certain section In new version.
 
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The God Pill

Well-known member
My nwt large print 1984 edition, Bible concordance, NIV reference Life application bible, and the GN version. Certain words have been changed in the 2013 updated version of the nwt. Shun appears 3 times yet in most versions it’s avoid. I use about ten versions regularly.
I encourage you as I do all others to share any insights or gems from going through different translations and manuscripts whenever you feel inclined.
 
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