Find Your Favorite Bible Online

New editions and translations of the Bible have often come in waves with publishing companies kindly sending me copies to review on the Bible Reviewer blog, but when that trend quietly ebbed, long gaps began to occur.

A few days ago, however, I saw a post from a new Christian, who lacked enough information to decide which translation to buy. Although he asked for and got some excellent suggestions, it just wasn’t the same as going into a Bible bookstore, carefully leafing through, and reading enough passages to find a preference. Of course, owners of those shops probably cringed every time someone casually flipped pages, creating creases or other signs of wear, but with the Internet, that’s no problem! For example:

Bible Gateway offers 150 translations of scriptures as well as commentaries and other study helps. For years, I relied on this site for research as I investigated topics I wanted to write about (such as love from God’s perspective) and biblical prayers and promises I felt led to compile and paraphrase for subsequent books.  

Bible Hub has become a favorite too. In addition to many translations, the site offers summaries of individual books of the Bible, a timeline, a Q &A section, option for audio, photos and artwork, parallel chapters for comparison, and more.

Biblica is new to me, but presents 40 translations online, a blog, a daily Bible verse (emailed to subscribers), an audio of the NIV Bible (New International Version), and a ministry of sending print Bibles to areas who often have none.

Blue Letter Bible site offers a quick online search of many translations as well as Bible study helps, devotionals, and other resources.

English Bible Online only has a half-dozen translations to search, read, and compare, but they’re the favorites in most Christian denominations. The site also includes a Q & A section with questions commonly asked.

For more options, type “online Bibles” or “Bible websites” in the Search box of your browser. If you find ones you especially like, please let us know in the Comments section below. Thanks. Blessings. And happy reading!

 

Mary Sayler, lover of the Lord God and His Word

 

 

 

 

 

KJV 1611

For a while, Bible publishers had a flurry of new editions and some new translations too, but as that activity decreased and personal activities increased, this blog sat idle. Surprisingly, it continued to receive visitors, which made me wonder about Bible websites in general.

For example, in searching for online translations, I discovered the Official King James Bible website, which not only offers updated editions of KJV but the original 1611 version. Although it reversed "U" and "V" from our present useage, the translation itself is very accessible as these verses below will show:16

16

1

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

"Though I speake with the tongues of men & of Angels, and haue not charity, I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I haue the gift of prophesie, and vnderstand all mysteries and all knowledge: and though I haue all faith, so that I could remooue mountaines, and haue no charitie, I am nothing.

3And though I bestowe all my goods to feede the poore, and though I giue my body to bee burned, and haue not charitie, it profiteth me nothing.

4Charitie suffereth long, and is kinde: charitie enuieth not: charitie vaunteth not it selfe, is not puffed vp,

5Doeth not behaue it selfe vnseemly, seeketh not her owne, is not easily prouoked, thinketh no euill,

6Reioyceth not in iniquitie, but reioyceth in the trueth:

7Beareth all things, beleeueth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8Charitie neuer faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall faile; whether there bee tongues, they shall cease; whether there bee knowledge, it shall vanish away."

...

John 3:16-17

"For God so loued þe world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.

17For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world: but that the world through him might be saued."

...

Ephesians 2:8-10

"For by grace are ye saued, through faith, and that not of your selues: it is the gift of God:

9Not of workes, lest any man should boast.

10For wee are his workemanship, created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes, which God hath before ordeined, that we should walke in them."

...

[Note: the original King James Version of the Bible included books often referred to as the Apocrypha.]

Wisdom of Solomon 1:12-15

"Seeke not death in the errour of your life: and pull not vpon your selues destruction, with the workes of your hands.

13For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the liuing.

14For he created all things, that they might haue their being: and the generations of the world were healthfull: and there is no poyson of destruction in them: nor the kingdome of death vpon the earth.

15For righteousnesse is immortall."

...

Ecclesasticus 2:15-18

"They that feare the Lord, will not disobey his word, and they that loue him, will keepe his wayes.

16They that feare the Lord, will seeke that which is well pleasing vnto him, and they that loue him, shall bee filled with the Law.

17They that feare the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and humble their soules in his sight:

18Saying, We will fal into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his maiestie is, so is his mercie."

...