"THE HOLY BIBLE... which language do you prefer... the King James Version with Concordance & Study Guide or New World?"

Asked by CALIDEE_MOO! 25 months ago

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i enjoy reading the King James Version without translation... and the Concordance and Study Guide is most helpful... i enjoy this version over the New World Version that translates because to me it seems more spiritual, poetic, and comforting and it was the one i was raised on ... i did read the translated version and really didn't care for it much as it seemed to leave out some words and embellish on many of the verses and meanings... i guess it's kinda hard to adjust if the King James is what you are raised on... also why is the Song of Solomon seldom talked about...? it's a beautiful section in the Bible... it seems to be very much avoided... the above statements and comments are just my opinion...

what's your take?


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"The answer depends on my goal. Different translations offer different things to us."
 by onebriiguy on Jan 15 2008 (25 months ago)
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The KJV *is* a translation, by the way. The original texts were written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. All English Bibles are translations.

I enjoy the modern translations of the Bible. They are based on the oldest, most accurate ancient documents available. Some of the documents available to translators today are older and more reliable than the ones the KJV translators used.

For deep theological study, I like the New American Standard. It is the closest to a literal word-for-word translation.

For personal reading and working with youth, I like the New Living Translation. It is more of a thought-for-thought translation and has the sing-song quality that makes it nice for reading aloud.

I also use the New International Version and the English Standard Version in my study and lesson preparation time. I will occasionally use The Message which is a paraphrase in contemporary language.

I once heard a biblical scholar talking about translation for the common person. He said that there is no substitute for studying in the original language, but, for most of us, that’s not going to happen. His second recommendation is that, when studying, we read a passage of scripture in several translations. In so doing, he said, we’d get the best overall sense of the original intent of the authors without knowing the language.

I hope this helps.
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"NIV"
 by EternalOptimist on Jan 15 2008 (25 months ago)
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 I prefer the New International Version ( NIV ).  Beacause, I was raised on it.

 

Currently however, I am very much enjoying "The Message."

 

 

As far as the KJV goes, no one talks like that.  Only in Shakespearan plays.  So it never held my attention.  In fact I believe to many it is a version that causes many to not want to read more of the Bible because it is hard to understand and when I hear some one start praying in the kings english, Oh GOD if thou art willing, please send thy loving hand to comfort and pratect thine child that is on a respirator at the local hospital.

 

I do agree that it is poetic and at time absolutely beautiful.  The substituion of Charity for Love I don’t care for.

 

I really like the online www.biblegateway.com where I can compare versions and I use it often when writing as a reference.

 

 Song of Solomon is a very sexy story and there are too few pastors that will even say SEX in church.

 

Check out the message version of it !!
Sources: life in the WORD

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"It depends on what I'm reading it for"
 by PamPerdue on Jan 15 2008 (25 months ago)
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Without a doubt, the King James has the best poetry of any translation.  In fact, it's some of the best poetry of any translation in any language; the Vulgate and the Greek versions are often less good, and even the original Hebrew Old Testament can be kind of clunky.

For the Old Testament, we have a more-or-less definitive original text in Hebrew, but the New Testament lacks a definitive text in an original language.  Everything we have, including the Vulgate and the Greek versions, are translations or reconstructions, not masters.  So there's often reason to choose poetry over authenticity.

For some arguments, though, you just need the original text, or as best you can.  For those there's just no reference like the original Hebrew, where you can get it.  I really like the Blue Letter Bible, which provides many original sources and a huge cross-reference of words and phrases.  That makes it easier to make arguments like, "Well, this word was used here and here and here, and from that context you can tell it means this."

It's also helpful sometimes to have something like the New International Version, which I find to be the best prose telling in English.  It's more faithful to the original sources.  More importantly, it doesn't have that Word of God feeling you get from the King James.  That Elizabethan/Jacobean language has become the definitive Voice of God; it's why it can be hard to tell the difference between Shakespeare and Scripture.  That makes for powerful reading, but it can also overpower the real intent of the stories.  If you just want to tell the story, the NIV is often superior, and because the translation is more accurate it's often able to convey the original intent better.  There's still plenty of power to be had.
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"new world"
 by just_orange_cherries on Jan 15 2008 (25 months ago)
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the thing i appreciate about the new world translation of the holy scripture is that it indeed is a translation, not a version [which is a modification of a translation]. i also like how it uses plain english so it can be understood by many, even small children who don't understand the flowery language. also words like shambles bothers me. most people have no idea what that meant in king jame's time. and it has changed, a lot.
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"Isn't the New World translation the Jehovah's Witness Bible?"
 by Christian on Jan 15 2008 (25 months ago)
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One problem I have with this is they intentionally botch John 1:1 to make it seem Jesus is not God.  So of course I prefer the King James, the NIV, the NASB, the New King James Version and practically any other version to the New World because it intentionally distorts what Scripture really says.
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Latest post on this question's discussion board:

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(NIV)

this isn't the best grammar, it should say the word was a god. not God. Jesus is a mighty god. God is
Almighty God however.

King James Bible
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

so with the logic in the grammar in this sentance making sense and thing revered or worship as a god could be the Word.
[a couple def. of god: One that is worshiped, idealized, or followed: Money was their god.
# A very handsome man.]
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