Bible Translations Guide

The most influential English Bible translation in history. Commissioned by King James I, its majestic Elizabethan prose has shaped English literature and worship for over four centuries. Many memorization resources default to KJV.

Best for: Traditional worship, memorization, literary appreciation

The best-selling modern English Bible. Translated by over 100 scholars from multiple denominations, the NIV balances faithfulness to the original languages with clear, natural English. Widely used in evangelical churches.

Best for: General reading, church use, personal study

A revision in the tradition of the KJV and RSV, the ESV aims to be as literal as possible while remaining readable. Popular among Reformed and evangelical churches for its precision and transparency to the original text.

Best for: In-depth study, preaching, memorization

Widely considered the most literally accurate English translation. The NASB renders the original Hebrew and Greek as directly as possible, even preserving verb tenses. Favored by those who want to study the text in close detail.

Best for: Word-by-word study, academic use, cross-referencing originals

A thought-for-thought translation that prioritizes conveying the meaning of the original text in clear, contemporary English. Evolved from The Living Bible paraphrase but is a full scholarly translation.

Best for: New believers, devotional reading, accessibility

A modernization of the KJV that updates archaic vocabulary (thee, thou, hath) while preserving the sentence structure, style, and textual basis of the original. Retains the literary beauty of the KJV in contemporary English.

Best for: KJV readers wanting modern language, worship, memorization

A relatively new translation that aims for a middle ground between word-for-word and thought-for-thought. Strives to be both "as literal as possible" and "as clear as necessary." Growing in popularity across denominations.

Best for: General reading, preaching, small groups

Eugene Peterson's contemporary paraphrase renders Scripture in the idiom of everyday American English. Not a word-for-word translation, but widely appreciated for making familiar passages feel fresh and immediate.

Best for: Devotional reading, fresh perspective, supplementary use

Uses brackets, parentheses, and italics to expand key words with their fuller range of meaning from the original languages. Helpful for readers who want deeper nuance without learning Hebrew or Greek.

Best for: Word study, devotional depth, teaching preparation

A public domain translation based on the ASV (1901), updated into modern English. Because it is not copyrighted, it can be freely quoted and distributed without restriction, making it widely available in apps and websites.

Best for: Free distribution, app integrations, public domain use

The standard translation for mainline Protestant denominations and academic biblical studies. Used by Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, ELCA Lutherans, and the United Church of Christ. Widely adopted in seminaries and ecumenical settings. Known for gender-inclusive language where the original text refers to people in general.

Best for: Mainline Protestant worship, seminary study, ecumenical use

A newer translation produced by scholars from 24 denominations, designed for clarity in public reading and worship. Particularly popular with United Methodists and other mainline churches. Uses contemporary, accessible English while remaining faithful to the original languages.

Best for: Public reading, United Methodist worship, accessibility

A landmark mid-20th century translation that updated the ASV (1901) into modern English while retaining formal literary style. The RSV became the basis for both the NRSV and the ESV. Still used in some Reformed and Lutheran churches, and its Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) is used by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Best for: Reformed and Lutheran traditions, bridge to NRSV and ESV

The official Bible of the Catholic Church in the United States. Used in the Lectionary for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. Includes the deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees) and extensive scholarly footnotes.

Best for: US Catholic liturgy, parish study, RCIA

The RSV adapted with Catholic imprimatur, including the deuterocanonical books in their traditional placement. This is the translation used by the Catechism of the Catholic Church (English edition) and many papal documents. Often called the "Catholic RSV."

Best for: Catechism cross-referencing, ecumenical study, apologetics

The historic English translation for Catholics, produced by English scholars in exile at the seminaries of Douai and Rheims. Translated from the Latin Vulgate (not the original Hebrew/Greek), it served as the standard Catholic English Bible for centuries. Still beloved for its dignified, archaic prose.

Best for: Traditional Catholic devotion, Vulgate study, historical interest

An English translation from the French Bible de Jerusalem, produced by Dominican scholars. Known for its literary quality, rich footnotes, and use of "Yahweh" for the divine name in the Old Testament. Widely used in Catholic parishes in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Best for: UK/Commonwealth Catholic liturgy, literary appreciation, study

The NRSV with Catholic deuterocanonical books included. Approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and widely used in Catholic academic settings. Known for gender-inclusive language where the original text refers to people in general.

Best for: Catholic academia, ecumenical dialogue, seminary study