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I was shopping for a gift for a friend. I decided a Bible would be perfect, but they had so many different translations I didn't know which one to choose. I just wonder if anyone could tell me which translation is more accurate and why. Please feel free to tell me what your personal preference is too.
I prefer the KJV and the NKJV, although for a more clear understanding, the NIV version is good. We have several at home and two concordances to help our understanding.
They're all accurate. The question is how readable a version would you like?
The King James Version is Old English (thee, thou, thy, etc.)
New King James is nearly identical to the KJV, without the thee, thy, thou.
New International Version is the next most popular next to the KVJ. The NIV is written in modern english. More easily understandable.
Those were the only two types I've used. You'll have to get other opinions regarding the other versions: Amplified, American Standard, Contemporary English, etc.
I believe you'll also have to be careful in that if you want a bible, you get a bible. There are some that "paraphrase" the bible. They supply the meaning without giving all the superfluous details.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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I would NOT recommend getting a paraphrase, because you face the danger of reading someone else's interpretation about the words of the Bible, instead of reading what it actually says. It's pretty unethical, IMO, to present what one thinks it means and assume it's the only valid way of interpreting it.
You'll want something that is cloesely translated to the original text. I recommend the NASB or ESV (English Standard Version). I recently purchased an ESV version after fifteen years of using NKJV. I don't recommend the Living or NIV versions as they often use words that aren't the best translation and can stray from the original intent of the author.
I've never been able to read an entire KJV. Just can't do it. If you're buying for a readable bible versus a study bible, I'd go with an NIV, NKJV or a NASB (which is reported to be a more literal translation than the KJV, if you can imagine.)
Hey Sun...now that you have all of these wonderful recommendations and are probably MORE confuzzled now than you already were lol...I will also give you a suggestion
I don't know what your spending limit is, however, I would personally HIGHLY recommenda Comparative Study Bible
Here you will have 3 or 4 (depending on which you get) different translations, making it MUCH easier to understand
The closest you will getto accurate will be the Hebrew version. Number two, the German. Number three the Greek, Number four the Latin.
All the above is in order of accuracy!
If it must be in Englsih than the KJV is the closest to accurate your going to get!
Where would I find the German or Latin Bible and would it be in English. I did see the Hebrew and the innerlinear Greek but it looked complicated. Thanks for the information
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