Which Bible translation do you prefer and why?

[NewLifeInChrist]

I like the, the New King James Version (NKJV) because it updated many of the outdated words from the original King James Version. Like, instead of 'charity', it used 'love'. It also corrected a few translations that I agree where not accurate. I never did care for the "ye's" and Yeah's" anyways, no matter how poetic it may sound.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) isn't bad either. I've used the New International Version (NIV) when I started out because it was easier to understand.

My go to is the NKJV.

Anything outside of those big four I probably wouldn't trust.

Dave

I use Logos Bible Software. It has many available translations that can be linked to follow your movements. Across the top of my app I have tabs for my favorite translations. When I go to a verse in one translation, the other tabs are on the same verse. In order of preference, I have tabs for NKJV, NASB95, NIV, HCSB, ESV, KJV 1900, and YLT. I also have tabs for the UBS4 interlinear and the Logos Septuagint.

The Greek helps that I use are my favorite part of Logos. I really love the Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon and the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. They are linked in to each word in any of the translations and I can use them to research the meaning of the original language.

In terms of best translations, I think it is pretty well accepted that the NASB translates Greek verbs most accurately, and I have confidence in what one of my professors told the class years ago that the NIV is especially accurate in translating the Hebrew of the OT.

 

[D-D-W]

I think it's good to use at least three from across the spectrum.

Yes. I have probably every version mentioned here plus a few more. While the "choppyness" of word for word formal translations has never bothered me. (hardly ever even notice it), I do realize some have a real problem with it not reading as smoothly as they are used to. Perhaps it is because I like reading "dry" technical texts.

I will read (OT) several well known Orthodox Jewish translations, and have a translation from the 1950s of the entire Peshita (Aramaic) text from the 300s, about the same age as the earliest Green NT texts. It also has the entire OT in Aramaic, centuries before the Masorites got ahold of the texts. Makes interesting reading.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

Esv

I agree with you that the ESV is my favorite. I prefer it because it is translated from the earlier Greek and Hebrew manuscripts (3rd and 4th century) that, therefore, must be closer to the original writings in contrast to the KJV, which is based on 10th century manuscripts and that were all they had then. I used to like the NIV, but that committee caved into the culture's paranoia about pronouns in their latest editions. As a former English teacher, I find many of their sentences awkward and incorrect (singular mixed with plural pronouns, for example).