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Published in 1971. Updated in 1995.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: Formal style, but more
readable than the King James Version.
Reading Level: 11.00
Translation Philosophy/Format: Priority to
word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse with
poetry
Number of Translators: 54
Notes: A highly respected formal
translation of the Bible. Purpose of the work was to update
the American Standard Version into more current English. |
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Published in 1611.
Reference Material: Plentiful
Readability: Difficult to read due to
17th-century English vocabulary and word order
Reading Level: 12.00
Translation Philosophy/Format: Priority to
word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse
Number of Translators: 54
Notes: Traditionally loved and accepted by
all Christians. Purpose in translation was "to deliver God's
book unto God's people in a tongue which they can
understand." |
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Published in 1982.
Reference Material: Not much for this
version but some KJV materials can be used
Readability: Easier word usage, but
somewhat choppy because it maintains 17th century sentence
structure
Reading Level: 9.0
Translation Philosophy/Format: Priority to
word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse
Number of Translators: 119
Notes: A modern language update of the
original KJV. Purpose was to update and modernize the
original KJV but preserve the KJV as much as possible. |
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Published in 1970.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: A clear and straightforward
translation that reads smoothly. Written in basic American
English.
Reading Level: 6.60
Translation Philosophy/Format: Priority to
word translation rather than meaning Paragraphs with poetry
Number of Translators: 55
Notes: Published under the direction of
Pope Pius XII, this Catholic version of the Bible represents
more than 25 years of effort by the Catholic Biblical
Association of America. All editions include the
deuterocanonical books. |
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Published in 1990.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: Contemporary, dignified with
generic language in reference to humans
Reading Level: 10.40
Translation Philosophy/Format: Balance
between word translation and meaning Paragraphs with poetry
Number of Translators: 30
Notes: A widely accepted translation in the
tradition of the King James Version. Purpose was to "make a
good one better." |
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Published in 1978.
Reference Material: Plentiful
Readability: A highly accurate and
smooth-reading version in modern English
Reading Level: 7.80
Translation Philosophy/Format: Balance
between word-for-word and thought-for-thought Paragraphs
with poetry
Number of Translators: 115
Notes: The best-selling translation, widely
accepted by evangelical Christians. Purpose in translation
was to "produce an accurate translation, suitable for public
and private reading, teaching, preaching, memorizing, and
liturgical use." |
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Reference Support Material
Reference Material: Not much for this
version but NIV materials can be used
Readability: Very easy to read and
understand; uses simple, short words and sentences
Reading Level: 2.90
Translation Philosophy/Format: Balance
between word translation and meaning, with an emphasis on
meaning where necessary for simplification Paragraphs with
poetry
Number of Translators: 40 (includes
stylists and simplifiers)
Notes: A thorough, scholarly simplification
of the NIV, the NIrV was specifically designed to help young
children and new readers understand the Bible for themselves
and create an easy stepping-stone from a children's Bible to
an adult Bible. |
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Published in 1995.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: Clear, simple English that a
child can understand, but with a mature style that adults
can appreciate
Reading Level: 5.40
Translation Philosophy/Format: Meaning
all-important. Paragraphs with poetry
Number of Translators: Over 100 (including
reviewers)
Notes: Written at an elementary-school
reading level, the CEV is readable and understandable for
the modern reader. |
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Published in 1976.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: Very simple, readable version.
Uses a limited vocabulary.
Reading Level: 7.29
Translation Philosophy/Format: Meaning
all-important Paragraphing with poetry and other special
indentations
Number of Translators: R. Bratcher (NT)
Bratcher plus six others (OT)
Notes: "A translation intended for people
everywhere for whom English is either their mother tongue or
an acquired language." |
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Reference Material: Some
Readability: A readable translation, uses
vocabulary and language structures commonly used by the
average person
Reading Level: 6.30
Translation Philosophy/Format: Priority to
meaning rather than word translation Paragraphs with poetry
Number of Translators: 90
Notes: The New Living Translation is a
dynamic equivalence translation based on the work of 90
Bible scholars and a smaller team of English stylists. These
scholars and stylists went back to the original languages
and sought to produce the closest natural equivalent of the
message in natural, contemporary English. |
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Published in 1971.
Reference Material: Some
Readability: A popular, readable
paraphrase, at times quite interpretive
Reading Level: 8.33
Translation Philosophy/Format: Meaning
all-important Paragraphs
Number of Translators: 1--Kenneth N. Taylor
Notes: A very popular paraphrase of the
Bible. The purpose of the work was to explain the Bible in
simple, everyday English. Originally intended for personal
devotional use only. |