Which translation of the Bible do you like best?

 

When a service person came to our house this week, he saw the books in my little office and asked, “Do you think you have enough Bibles?” Probably not! But that started us talking about which translations we prefer and why.

 

As you might have guessed by now, I love them all! (Well, almost! I had to decline a review copy of an edition that omitted “negative” parts!) Although I use only the most respected translations to prepare for my Bible study discussion group, I like to see for myself what synonyms various translators choose, especially in difficult to understand passages. Sometimes a paraphrased version can help to clarify as can texts from the Aramaic or other languages used in biblical times. And, of course, researching specific verses and topics on Bible Gateway helps to provide a clearer understanding of scriptures too.

 

Having grown up reading the King James Version every night – and often being perplexed by its beautifully poetic but archaic language, I’ve found that, the more I read contemporary versions, the more I return to the KJV and, hallelujah, “get it!”

 

Since my criteria are accuracy, readability, and, yes, poetic musicality, I regularly turn to KJV but also to the New Living Translation (NLT), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), and Christian Standard Bible (CSB.) The New Revised Standard (NRSV) gets opened often too, and for accuracy, so does the New American Standard (NASB.)

 

The English Standard Version (ESV) is highly noted for accuracy, but its lack of musicality keeps it from being my favorite. The New International Version (NIV) is known for accessibility, but it, too, lacks the poetic quality that, as a poet myself, I prefer.

 

But what about you? Which translation of the Bible do you like best and why?

 

Your comments about your preference(s) are very, very welcomed in the Comments section below, but not put-downs about other people’s choices.

 

If you discover your favorite has not been reviewed on this blog, please let me know! You can find out by typing the name of the edition in the Search box in the upper right side of the page.

 

Regardless of your translation of choice, may the Lord bless your reading of God’s Word.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet, author, and compiler of the Book of Bible Prayers and Kneeling on the Promises of God

 

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The Bible Books of ME

Actually, all of the “Wisdom Books” in the Bible focus on attempts to understand cause-and-effect and/or seemingly random acts that make no sense to us. As we strive to be rational and find profitable ways to live, two “Me” books stand out in particular: Job and Ecclesiastes.

The “Wisdom Books” of the Bible include both of these books, and yet, as we read them, neither Job nor Solomon seems too wise. Why? Both apparently relate to the world as revolving around themselves.

Consider Job. After suffering tremendous losses of family and possessions, he initially had the right attitude:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked shall I return.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord,” Job 1:21

The second blow, however, affected Job himself, covering him with horrifying sores from head to toe and leaving him so miserable, he couldn’t speak for days. Understandably, he sat in such intense shock, his friends gathered around him, then remained, day and night, for a whole week of silence. When Job finally began to speak, however, he cursed the day he was born!

King Solomon had too much going for him to rue his own birth, and yet he felt so dissatisfied, he began the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verse two, by saying:

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!”

or

“Futile! Futile! Everything is futile!”

or

“Useless! Useless! Everything is useless.”

or

“Pointless! Pointless! Everything is pointless!”

Well, you get the point. The wisest man on earth saw nothing people gained, no matter how good they were, how hard they worked, or how successful they became. Pretty depressing! Yet most of us have felt the same at some point in our wrestling match with pointlessness.

So, what’s the answer? How did Job and Solomon wise up? How can we? In all cases, the solution is the same:

Turn ME upside down to WE.

Eventually that’s what Job, Solomon, and other wise people concluded: 

Our lives will seem vain or wasted until we place ourselves in God’s hands. 

No longer will we focus our lives on ME, but WE - God and I, God and us.

As we accept and believe that the Lord is too vast and holy for us to fully understand, our part is to trust God, Who Is All Good, and turn to Him in faith, knowing He will ultimately works things out for our good.

Praise God!

And may our wisdom abide and abound in God, Who is All-Wise.

 

©2021, MarySayler with thanks to Bible Gateway for supplying us with the wonderful richness of God’s Word online

 

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The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide

Published by Bethany House, who kindly sent me a copy for an honest review, The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide by Tara-Leigh Cobble just didn’t speak to me at first! As the posts on this blog show, I’m really into the Bible and have been since early childhood. So I don’t identify with those who view God’s Word as inaccessible or hard to understand. My way has been to look up difficult passages in various translations and, in recent years, to search Bible Gateway where I find English versions I’d never heard of or don’t have on my shelves.

But that’s me.

Tara-Leigh Cobble also has a passion for God’s Word – just not a similar experience, but rather than giving up, she took another approach to understanding the Bible – one involving relevant questions with which most of us can relate and will do well to ask.

In her opening letter, for example, she approaches the Bible with these vital questions:

• What does God say or do in this passage?
• What does this reveal about what God loves?
• What does this reveal about what God hates?
• What does this reveal about what motivates God to do what He does?
• In all of that, what attributes of God are displayed?

As she goes on to explain:

“The questions we ask of the Bible impact the wisdom we glean from it. Reading the Bible is not a means of self-help or an attempt to earn God’s favor. It’s an opportunity to behold the beauty of God and be drawn in by Him.”

After focusing on her favorite passages, the author “decided to read through Scripture chronologically, not front to back. I wanted to see the overall story line or metanarrative,” finding “Some of the questions I had in Leviticus weren’t answered until Hebrews. But all good relationships require patience, and they develop over time. It’s worth holding some things with an open hand and waiting until God reveals more of Himself.”

Amen!

Ironically, my dissimilar approach led me to the same conclusion! So I’d already purchased a chronological Bible before I saw the opening line in “How to Use This Book”:

“This book is arranged according to a one-year chronological plan, but you don’t have to buy a chronological Bible. In fact, I encourage you not to because it’s probably laid out differently than the plan we are doing.”

With each day’s reading clearly shown at the top of the page, the author suggests we first read the passage(s) in our preferred translation then return to The Bible Recap for a summary and a commentary on any confusing parts. At the end of each of those introductions is “Today’s God Shot,” which gives a glimpse of an aspect of God relevant to the reading. For instance, at the end of the section “Genesis 1-3,” that sidebar says:

“God is our Creator and the Lord over everything, but despite His lordship and His perfection, He’s merciful toward the sinners He’s in relationship with.”

At the end of the section for “Exodus 13-15,” we read this “God Shot,” which says:

“There is no love without wrath. If you truly love something, you’ll hate whatever threatens it. Out of God’s great love for Israel, He fights for them. And when God makes war, He wins. He has solutions we can’t even conceive of – who would even think to pray for a path through the sea? …He knows better than we do. He loves better than we do. He helps eradicate the things that distract our heart from Him to help us remember that He’s where the joy is!”

Joy – delight, elation, and even ecstasy – reside in knowing and loving God, which is the primary theme and purpose of this book. For example, as The Bible Recap reaches the New Testament, we’re encouraged to read “Matthew 5-7” followed by this commentary:

"In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes the upside-down kingdom of God. He opens with eight blessings, and many scholars believe they’re cumulative – the first blessing is the foundation of the rest of the sermon….

“When we realize our spiritual poverty, we mourn it which produces meekness in us as we engage the world. Meekness gives way to a desire for God to increase our righteousness. It becomes easier to show mercy to others, because we know what it’s like to struggle. God continues to purify us as we engage with Him. We become people who don’t run from conflict, but who enter into the chaos and create peace. Peacemakers, not peacekeepers….”

Amen! Through the Bible, The Bible Recap, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, may God help us to know Him better, incorporate His Word more fully into our lives, and make peace as the Lord empowers us in Jesus’ Name.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, Bible Reviewer

 

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Eco Bible: Volume 1

In the Eco Bible, Volume 1: An Ecological Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, the lead editors and contributors, Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Rabbi Leo Dee, bring us an ecological look at the first two books of the Bible. Published by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, this unique edition includes “quotes from over 100 rabbis and other great Jewish thinkers commenting on verses from the Hebrew Bible.”

As a Christian who believes God’s first command was for all peoples to take care of the earth and each part of creation, I eagerly welcomed this perspective and review copy, and I pray others will too. Why? As the Introduction says:

“We have disrupted the ecological balance of all God created on earth, and we owe it to God, to each other, and to all species to restore the balance…. Awareness of the Infinite opens us up to protecting the immediate – the very planet on which we live.”

The authors go on to say, “As a fundamental part of many people’s lives, religion can be a key motivator by shaping values.” Consider, for example, these three reasons stated in the book:

“First, religion can persuade people to consume in moderation as they find true satisfaction in spirituality, community, and family. Spiritual living should bring consciousness to our consumption.”

“Second, religious teachings help instill foresight and long-term thinking.”

“Finally, and perhaps more importantly, religion embodies hope.”

As the commentary begins with Genesis 1:1, “Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch makes the first verse in Genesis personal and proactive. He writes that the words teach us ‘to think of the world as God’s world and ourselves as creatures of God’.”

The “Sustainability and Spiritual Awareness” found in Genesis 1:3 reminds us that “…the sun was not created until the fourth day,” and “the light God created on the first day of creation was not a physical light but a spiritual one. Rabbi Sholom Berezovsky teaches that ‘without this holy light there is no merit in sustaining creation.’ Those who seek God perceive this spiritual light. The sustainability of creation therefore depends on the spiritual awareness of humanity.”

Packed with wisdom, insight, and helpful information, the book also offers “Suggested Action Items” to end each section with practical application. For instance, we might:

“Learn about the environmental challenges faced in your local community. Identify one place where you’d like to focus your attention on the health of the land.” 

This action could be as extravagant as giving a generous gift to an environmentally-aware charity or as simple as picking up trash someone else tossed aside in your neighborhood, on the street, or anywhere litter occurs. As we’re reminded by Exodus 3:5 and the book’s subsequent comment on Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush:

“This passage tells us that land is holy, not just a land. In Genesis, God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth; therefore, all lands are touched by God.”

With thought-provoking commentary on 450 verses of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible), the Eco Bible collects 3,500 years of Jewish wisdom on creation care, which, applied by us, ultimately shows our caring for ourselves, each other, and our LORD God.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, reviewer

Eco Bible: Volume 1, hardcover

Eco Bible: Volume 1, paperback

 

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The Passion Translation: NT with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs

A few years ago, BroadStreet Publishing kindly sent me a boxed set of several books in The Passion Translation (TPT) to review, but this year I’ve been wanting a single volume of the New Testament with Psalms to reread, hopefully forever!

 

Searching online, I found even more than I dreamed in The Passion Translation: NT with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs, and so I ordered a copy in reddish-brown faux leather. (If I’d seen the large print edition in violet, I probably would have ordered it!)

 

Besides laying open flat, as a genuine leather Bible would do, this slender edition of TPT, is as attractive as any Christmas gift should be. But what attracts us far more is the highly readable text and exceptional footnotes that even someone with many, many translations of the Bible will welcome.

 

For example, have you ever thought of Psalm 15 as King David’s “Sermon on the Mount”? I had not, but the TLP footnotes make that comparison.

 

To give you a better idea of what to expect in this unique Bible, I’ll use 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as an example. Why? When I previously reviewed the TPT, a reader asked about the word choices in those verses of the “love chapter.” The TPT footnotes will explain, but first, let’s look at the text. [If you’d like to compare it with the King James Version (KJV), click here for the same passage as shown on the Bible Gateway website.]

 

“4. Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous^a when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated^b or quick to take offense^c. 6. Love joyfully celebrates honesty^d and finds no delight in what is wrong^e. 7. Love is a safe place of shelter^f, for it never stops believing the best for others^g. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. 8a. Love never stops loving^h.”

 

[Note: The italicized words indicate what’s implied by the context of the passage.]

 

The footnotes aligned with those verses add insight into the above word choices for the TPT translation:

 

a 13:4 Or “boil with jealousy.”

b 13:5 Or “overly sensitive” [having sharp edges].

c 13:5 Or “resentful” or “does not keep score.” The Aramaic can be translated “Love does not stare at evil.” Love will overlook offenses and remain focuses on what is good, refusing to hold resentment in our hearts.

d 13:6 Or “reality” (for “truth”).

e 13:6 Or “injustice” or “unrightousness.”

f 13:7 Or “Love bears all things.” Although commonly understood to mean that love can bear hardships of any kind, the nominalized form of the verb (stego) is actually the word for “roof” found in Mark 2:4. Paul is saying that love covers all things, like a roof covers the house. See 1 Peter 4:8. Love does not focus on what is wrong but will bear with the shortcomings of others. And like a roof protects and shields, you could say that love springs no leak. It is a safe place that offers shelter, not exposure.

g 13:7 “Or “it never loses faith.”

h 13:8 “Or “love never, not even once, fails [lapses]” or “Love never falls down” [it keeps going higher].

 

There’s much more to say, but the TLP needs to be read - cover to cover - by all lovers of God and His word.

 

 

Reviewed by poet-writer Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020

 

If you'd like to order a copy for yourself or someone else, click on your preference:

The Passion Translation: New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs, covered in reddish-brown faux leather 

The Passion Translation: New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs in large print, covered in violet-purple faux leather 

Fresh Start Bible

Published by Gateway Publishing, who kindly sent me a copy to review, the Fresh Start Bible is certainly well-named. Instead of copious footnotes about cultural, political, or geographical scenes in the Bible, this edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) has sidebars of articles and suggestions for a new (or renewed) life in Christ.

For example, the feature of a “Fresh Start Journey” consists of 52 lessons on the Christian life, which can be studied by individual readers or guide weekly discussions in a church group. Topics focus on learning more about God (and yourself!), studying the Bible, receiving baptism in the Holy Spirit, living in the spirit, praying in a prayer language, finding a church, building healthy relationships,and more.

Number 37 “What Are Inner Vows?” especially interested me. Since that biblical concept is based on Matthew 5:33-37, I looked up those verses in NLT on Bible Gateway to help clarify:

³³ “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. ³⁵ And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. ³⁷ Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”

The “Fresh Start Journey” then explains:

“An inner vow is a self-oriented commitment made in response to a person, experience, or desire in life. Whenever we focus a commitment inward, it becomes an inner vow. We often make inner vows in response to pain or frustration in an attempt to comfort ourselves regarding the future. Rather than freeing us from the problem, though, inner vows act as tethers that tie us to the past in an unhealthy way. Some common examples of inner vows include:

‘No one will ever hurt me again!’

‘I’ll never be vulnerable again to anyone.’

‘I’m never going to be like my parents’.”

Shockingly, such vows are apt to dominate our lives – regardless of what God’s Word says! It’s not that we mean for this to happen, but once forgotten by the conscious mind, inner vows continue to direct our choices, commitments, relationships, and even our feelings. Simply recognizing this enables us to turn these ill-advised promises over to God and ask Him to break their power. We’re also encouraged to forgive where needed and “Find out what the Bible says to do in that situation and obey God’s Word.”

 Other fine features in this edition include lists of miracles and parables, colored maps ending with “Israel and The Middle East Today,” and “Intersections,” which look at major figures in the Bible and their relationships with God. I also greatly appreciated the “Worship Way,” which discusses the Whom, what, why, and how of acknowledging God’s worthship and expands our understanding of what worship can be. For example,

“When you speak or act in God’s name, you worship. This includes:

– raising your hands to the heavens

– bowing your knees

– singing songs of praise

– comforting a hurting friends

– working diligently at your job

– teaching your children about God’s love

– buying groceries for a struggling single parent

– giving an encouraging word to a neighbor

– and so much more.”

Indeed, more and more opportunities for praise, thanksgiving, and awe surely come as we draw ever closer to the Lord.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020, poet-writer, Bible reviewer.

 

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Reviewing Bibles and Bible prayers

Publishers of various translations of the Bible often produce new editions to give us study notes and visual aids that help us better understand the people, times, or places to which those features refer. Sometimes, they provide new editions with wide margins for us to make our own notes or drawings. And sometimes they publish large print – even giant print – Bibles to ease our reading.

Whatever your particular need or preference, you’ll likely find a review of the Bible that speaks most clearly to you by scrolling through these blog pages. At the moment, though, I’ve received no new copies to review during these troubling times.

I look forward to letting you know about new translations or editions when they arrive. Meanwhile, we need the Bible more than any time I can recall in my own long life. As COVID-19, riots, and weird weather come crashing in on us, we need prayer!

Spontaneous prayers connect us immediately to God, even if that’s merely the first two words most likely prayed: “God help!” The Lord wants us to pour out our hearts in prayer as we turn to God for confession, guidance, protection, wisdom, intercession, thanks, or praise.

The people in Bible days did this too. And they also experienced scary diseases, wars, political unrest, doubts, fears, famine, and catastrophic weather conditions. They had much in common with us, and, more important, they had faith in God.

For years, I’ve read their prayers written in the Bible and prayed in agreement with those relevant to present-day events and concerns. Such prayers lift ebbing spirits, ease worries, and bump up the power in our prayer lives.

Remember, for instance, how Abraham begged God not to destroy the city of Sodom? Here’s my paraphrase of that conversational prayer:

Genesis 18:23, 32

Lord, would You really sweep away

the righteous with the wicked?

What if ten honorable people

are found?

And God answered:

For the sake of ten,

I will not destroy the town.

As you know, not even ten people could be found! And yet, that prayer brings hope and comfort as we pray for cities being swept by rioting.

And, remember, Jacob’s wrestling with an Angel as he wrestled with his own doubts and faith?

Genesis 32:26 – a prayer of Jacob

Lord, I will

not let

You go

until

You bless me!

Are there times that very prayer would speak for us and encourage us not to give up when facing all sorts of calamities? And what about the prayer of Moses after God’s people had been freed from slavery in Egypt? Does this prayer speak today?

Deuteronomy 21:8  

Lord, You freed us!

Now please

make peace with us.

Don’t let the guilt

of unsolved offenses

reside with Your people.

Give us peace, Lord.

Give us peace.

In times of sickness and personal loss, we have Job’s prayers to remind us we’re not alone. The wonderful prayers in the Book of Psalms remind us that the beloved King David had his troubles too.

Psalm 12:1-3, 6-7

Help, Lord!

Is there anyone still faithful to You?

Has all sense of loyalty disappeared?

People lie to each other

and flatter and deceive.

Stop them, Lord!

Whatever You say is purer than silver

refined seven times by fire.

Guard us, Lord.

Protect us in these terrible times.

Some Bible prayers will quicken our faith and amplify our voice more than others. And some translations will help us to hear better than others.

As I compiled the Bible prayers I found in God’s Word, I visited the Bible Gateway site often, so I could read each prayer in several versions before paraphrasing into everyday English. Later, I used the site to locate the King James Version of the same prayers to provide a separate edition for those who want KJV only. However, I encourage readers of the Book of Bible Prayers paraphrased and the Book of KJV Prayers to keep their favorite translations alongside for increased understanding of what the scriptures say.

For instance, most of us love and can recite the KJV translation in Matthew 6 of the Lord’s Prayer aka Our Father, but Luke has his way of recalling those words too.

Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus

And (Jesus) said unto them,

When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins;

for we also forgive every one

that is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

from the Book of KJV Prayers, ©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler

Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus

Father in heaven,

may Your Name

be kept holy among us.

Bring us into Your kingdom.

Give us bread for the day.

Forgive us

as we forgive those who

have wronged us.

Keep us from temptation.

Deliver us

from a time of hard trials.

paraphrased from the Book of Bible Prayers, ©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler

People often use the Lord’s Prayer as an outline to guide their prayers. For example, we might pray: “Father in heaven, please help my family and I hallow Your Name in our thoughts and conversations, decisions and actions. Please keep us one nation under God.”

Instead of lashing out at others, we might ask God to remind us of what we need to forgive and also of who might need to forgive us. We might pray for God’s help with specific temptations and God’s deliverance from ill spirits of every kind as we keep in mind those words of the Lord Jesus.

But, as you know, praying doesn’t always mean asking! Look at these words in the prayer of Jesus’ mother Mary and embrace them as her whole body embraced the Christ Child and forever stayed at His side.

Luke 1:46-50 – a prayer of Mary

With all my heart, I praise You, Lord!

What favor You have shown!

From now on, every generation 

will call me blessed

because of the great things

You have done for me.

Holy is Your Name!

In every generation,

You give mercy upon mercy

to all who honor You.

paraphrased from the Book of Bible Prayers, ©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler

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God’s promises in God’s Word reveal God’s will

As you have surely heard – and, hopefully, sung – the hymn “Standing on the Promises” of God encourages us to stand firm in our faith as we live our lives and interact with the world. But what if we kneel on those promises?

Claiming God’s promises and praying in agreement with God's vows to us ensures that we’re praying in God’s will.

Regardless of the translation we choose from the many editions reviewed on this blog over the years, our belief in the Bible as God’s Word lets us know we have God’s word on matters crucial to our lives! By claiming those promises, we strengthen our faith and empower our prayers.

As God-incidence would have it, the Lord put this timely subject on my mind months ago! And thankfully, the Bible Gateway blog eased the research, enabling me to collect and paraphrase over 250 of countless Bible promises into the new book, Kneeling on the Promises of God.

Each page begins with the next timely promise, found according to the typical arrangement of the books of the Bible then divided into two sections of Old Testament Promises and New. (Interestingly, those turned out to be about the same length!)

A conversational prayer in everyday language follows each Bible verse with space at the bottom of the page for you to write down prayers that come to you as you claim God’s word and agree with God’s will in prayer.

To give you an example, here's the first page:

Genesis 28:15 – “Look! I Am with you. I watch over you as you come and go. I will not leave you before I have done everything I promised.”

What joy we have in Your presence, Lord! What empowering promises You have given us to claim!

You, our Heavenly Father, our Loving God, and the Creator of all life in heaven and on earth, have given Your word to be with us. No matter where we are, You are there.

We need You now, Lord.

We need You now.

At present the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic has slowed shipping of nonessential items, but Kneeling on thePromises of God is essential! Therefore, you can also find it in an  e-book. Whether you prefer electronic or snail mail, there’s rarely been a more crucial time for the whole world to pray with power and conviction.

Seriously! Let’s take God at His Word!

©2020, MaryHarwell Sayler, poet-writer, and lifelong believer in the Bible and prayer

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