In this article I would like to mention some of the most important English translations of the Bible. I am going to indicate the type of translation it is, and make a few other helpful remarks as necessary. I hope that you find it useful in choosing a Bible translation for your own personal reading and study -- The Amplified Bible -- The Amplified Bible is a specialty translation produced by The Lockman Foundation, and makes use of a special system of punctuation to indicate various shades of meaning that may not be apparent to most English-speaking readers of the Bible.

The Contemporary English Version -- The Contemporary English version is a product of the American Bible Society. It is not a literal, word for word translation, but uses every day English to communicate biblical truth.

The Douay-Rheims Bible -- The Douay-Rheims Bible is a traditional Catholic translation, written around the same time as the King James Version which is familiar to Protestants. The DRB is still used by many English-speaking Catholics today, especially traditionalist Catholics.

The English Standard Version -- the ESV is a relatively recent translation, which used the RSV as its base text. It is in a more literal translation, but is nicely balanced -- and is fast gaining favor among evangelical Protestant Christians.

God's Word -- Gods Word is another contemporary English translation of the Bible, sponsored by the Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society.

The Good News Bible -- The Good News Bible, sometimes called Today's English Translation, is another contemporary language translation which was sponsored some years back by the American Bible Society, and which still remains popular in certain circles, especially in larger, mainline denominations.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible -- The Holman Christian Standard Bible is a more literal translation from Broadman and Holman publishers which also attempts to strike a balance in the direction of being very understandable. It has a small, but dedicated following.

The New Jerusalem Bible -- The New Jerusalem Bible, a revision and updating of the Jerusalem Bible, is a contemporary translation that displays an excellent literary style. Published by Random House in the United States, it is also a popular choice among contemporary Catholics.

The King James Version -- What could we say about the King James Version -- since the 1700s at least this translation has exercised a mammoth influence within Christendom. Multitudes of people still read -- and love -- the KJV, however many today find its antiquated language a barrier to understanding and are seeking alternatives.

The New American Bible -- The New American Bible is the standard translation for Catholics in the United States today. It is an enormously important translation, as all Catholic Mass Scripture texts in this country use this translation. The oversight for this translation belongs to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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