Under each section heading our recommendations are in order of
preference.
Most Literal
(word or form-based translation, sometimes called 'literal, or formal
equivalence')
1.
English Standard Version (ESV) (see
article1,
article2,
endorsements)
2. New American Standard Version (NASB, Updated Edition)
3. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)*
4. Amplified
Bible (AMP) [a literal translation with words added in brackets or
parens]
Most Readable
(meaning-based translation, sometimes referred to as 'dynamic
equivalence')
1. New
International Version (NIV)
2. New English Translation (NET) [
www.bible.org]
3. The Modern Language Bible, (MLB - Berkeley Version)
4. New Living Translation (NLT Second Edition)
Paraphrase
(not technically a translation but a rephrasing of the text, use with
caution!)
1. The
Living Bible (TLB)
2. The Message (TM)
3. Todays English Version (TEV)
4. The New Testament in Modern English (J.B. Philips)
Study Bibles
Not
Recommended for reading and general study! see article
Bibliography For Further Study:
Bruce, F.F., The English
Bible. New York: Oxford University Press,
1970.
Fee, Gordon D., How to Choose
a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using
Bible Versions, Zondervan, 2007
Ryken, Leland, Choosing a
Bible: Understanding Bible Translation Differences, Crossway
Books, 2005
Recent
English Bible Versions Compared, article by Wayne Leman
Hawthorne, G.F., How To Choose
A Bible. Christianity Today, Vol. 20,
December 5, 1975, pp.7-10.
Translation
Comparison (based on
Romans 3:23-26)
Questions? Email the
WebMaster
* The Holman CSB tries to bridge
the gap
between form-based and meaning-based translation, ie. literal where
possible--expanded where necessary for meaning, and they have done an
excellent job.