What are your top 5 bible versions?

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jimmudcatgrant

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Why are they your favorites? Or maybe you only have one version you trust.  If so, which one?

1. King James- saved under the preaching of this version. Love to read the poetic and unique style it is written in.
2. HCSB-  I like the way it reads in the OT and NT.
3. ESV- I like it better in the OT than the NT
4. NASB- In some places it is considered wooden, but I like to compare other versions to it since it is touted as the most literal.
5. NET- I love all the notes in it and some of the new translations, such as patience changed to endurance or perserverance.
 
KJV - partly because I'm used to it, and partly  because it just has a more authoritative sound to it.  90% of my memorisation is from the KJV.

NKJV - It retains most of what I like about the KJV and most of what I don't like about the KJV has been "fixed".

NRSV - A bit of a liberal version, but I like it.

NIV84 -  I used this for several years, and I still like it for comparison purposes.  For asthetic reasons I don't particularly care for the NIV2011 though.

NASB-95  - I like the fact that it's supposed to be the most accurate version.  I don't like the NASB77 because I don't like the way they use "Thee" to address God. Special pronouns for God are not justified by the original languages (David used the same pronouns to address God that Balaam used to address his donkey).
 
wheatpenny said:
KJV - partly because I'm used to it, and partly  because it just has a more authoritative sound to it.  90% of my memorisation is from the KJV.

NRSV - A it of a liberal version, but I like it.

NIV84 -  I used this for several years, and I still like it for comparison purposes.  For asthetic reasons I don't particularly care for the NIV2011 though.

NASB-95  - I like the fact that it's supposed to be the most accurate version.  I don't like the NASB77 because I don't like the way they use "Thee" to address God. Special pronouns for God are not justified by the original languages (David used the same pronouns to address God that Balaam used to address his donkey).
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I use the KJV for memorization also as my church uses it for that reason.  Other versions weren't forbidden, but the SS lessons have to be from the KJV as well as memorization in the classroom of the Christian School.
Bro Blue said:
1. KJB
2. KJB
3. KJB
4. KJB
5. KJB

Good enough for me. :D
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Ok, then.  What are your top 5 versions of the KJB? :)
 
[list type=decimal]
[*]NASB - despite the chunky English, it spoke to me in the early 90s when I picked one up for the first time. It's been my go-to-meeting Bible since.  Precise and eminently suitable for close study.
[*]ESV - It's like the NASB, but without the semicolons.  Also precise, but quite a bit more readable. Acts, in fact, is a page-turner.
[*]NIV - It's so popular that everyone has one - you know that when you meet with friends, you're all on the same page, so to speak. Despite being criticized for being "dynamic," it's actually in the middle of the road between a literal translation and a true paraphrase. Besides, when it interprets, it's generally right. It's written at an average reading level, so any competent reader will find it quite accessible.
[*]NKJV - I give this version a close second in the readability department, after the NIV.
[*]KJV - other than the above, no other Bible that has been translated in the last 100 years really matches it.
[/list]
 
1. ESV - My "go to" Bible, best blend of literal translation and good modern English.
2. HCSB - Also a great blend of solid translation and readable English.
3. TNIV - Much maligned in fundie/evangelical circles, but I think it's excellent and a clear improvement over the 1984 NIV. Perhaps the 2011 NIV will replace it in my affections... but we shall see.
4. NRSV - Very similar to the ESV, but mainstream rather than evangelical.
5. NLT2 - Most readable daily use translation, and still pretty sound too. 
 
Overall:

1. KJV  - decades of familiarity, and definitely the only one I've memorized
2. NASB95  - better detailed accuracy, at least most of the time
3. ESV  - accuracy close to NASB, but a bit more euphonious
4. NET  - text rather overmuch "dynamic equivalence" for my taste, but good notes which are often helpful
5. NKJV  - the only committee-produced TR-based modern version, which fortunately frequently improves on the KJV by preferring readings reminiscent of the Geneva Bible.

For years, I read almost entirely from the KJV. I refer to the KJV only occasionally now, but read regularly almost exclusively from the ESV and NASB95.
 
NIV (1984&2010): closest to Greek&Hebrew in my opinion
ESV
NET
NASB
New Living Translation
 
Izdaari said:
3. TNIV - Much maligned in fundie/evangelical circles, but I think it's excellent and a clear improvement over the 1984 NIV. Perhaps the 2011 NIV will replace it in my affections... but we shall see.
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Right on target. It was not the egalitarian Bible that the evangelical crowd made it out to be.
 
1) ESV - I like it for its readability & accuracy although I'm leaning away from formal equivalency these days
2) ISV - handles Greek verb tenses the best (could be #1, if functional equivalency is preferred; I didn't put it at #1 b/c it will probably never be a very popular translation like the rest I mention)
3) NIV84 - good for children
4) NKJV - great translation philosophy and nice to have a different textual tradition representative
5) toss up w/ the HCSB, NASB, NIV11 & NET (good notes)

In the end... I really don't care.  I read through a different translation each year, but honestly I have on real preference.  I take my Greek/Hebrew Bible to church these days.
 
NIV for daily reading. It is easier to read than most translations. (I don;t like ones that are really paraphrases)
NKJV
ESV
NASB
UBS 4 when I have time to patiently read it and understand it.
 
Timotheos said:
1) ESV - I like it for its readability & accuracy although I'm leaning away from formal equivalency these days
2) ISV - handles Greek verb tenses the best (could be #1, if functional equivalency is preferred; I didn't put it at #1 b/c it will probably never be a very popular translation like the rest I mention)
3) NIV84 - good for children
4) NKJV - great translation philosophy and nice to have a different textual tradition representative
5) toss up w/ the HCSB, NASB, NIV11 & NET (good notes)

In the end... I really don't care.  I read through a different translation each year, but honestly I have on real preference.  I take my Greek/Hebrew Bible to church these days.
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I have the ISVNT on Quickverse 2011, but can't find the whole bible in print anywhere.  I had read somewhere that it was coming out in 2011, but I guess it got delayed.  Sometimes it reads like either the ESV, the HCSB or the NRSV.  Sometimes it is unique.  I haven't ever paid much attention to it, but it is pretty good to read.
 
1. NKJV - I first discovered this in college and fell in love with it;
2. KJV - I grew up with this and did most of my memorizing from it;
3. NASB - I like the extreme literalness, but it's clunky at times, and feels like someone is wrestling the English to the ground and twisting it into Greek shapes;
4. ESV - surprisingly good reading; it often exceeds my favorite NKJV for precision; not quite as literal as the NASB, but much easier to read
5. HCSB - I'm not that big of a fan of the HCSB; I don't see what is gained from it that I can't get from either the NASB or the ESV.  The HCSB is, however, the only major version to accurately translate certain passages such as John 3:16, so give them kudos for being brave

Special mention for the ASV as well; it has an excellent reading feel.
 
NIV
KJV
NKJV
ASV 1901
NASB
ESV
HCSB
NLT

Oops.  That is more than five, but I use all of them.
 
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