So now we have looked at the history of Bible translations. That’s nice, but the key is to pick one and read it. It can be a bit overwhelming when trying to choose which translation to use. There are several things to keep in mind as you consider this issue. Some translations are considered literal, which means they attempt to keep as close as possible to Hebrew or Greek words and grammar.

Then there are dynamic translations which still want to keep the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek but put their words and idioms in English. Finally, there are free translations which don’t worry as much about using the exact words of the original; instead, they attempt to translate the ideas from one language to another.

So where do well-known translations land with these three types of translations? Literal translations would include the King James Version, New American Standard, Revised Standard Version, and English Standard Version. Those that are considered dynamic translations would include the New International Version, the New American Bible, the Jerusalem Bible, the Good News Bible, the New Living Translation, and the Revised English Bible. Those that qualify as free translations are Phillips, the Living Bible, the New English Bible, and The Message.

I would suggest staying away from the free translations because the translator has updated the original texts too much. They come very close to being commentaries rather than Bible translations. I think your best bet is to stay with dynamic translations because they attempt to blend specifics of the Hebrew and Greek texts with our English language.

Good ones for you to consider might be Today’s New International Version, the Good News Bible, the New American Bible, or the English Standard Version. A couple of other good ones would be the New American Standard (updated) or The New Revised Standard Version. Whatever you choose, just be sure to read it!