Most of my beloved readers already know about the NET translation but if you don’t, or if you’ve overlooked it, it’s worth investigating and using at least for comparison. I’ve often used it for comparison when I’m using a lot of translations for comparison, but I’m realizing more and more how much I like it with some caveats. I let a few strange sounding passages in the past turn me off to it a little.
And of course it has the best footnotes/notes of most if not any other Bible that help you to learn why they chose certain words and phrases.
Here is one I looked up but of course you’ll want to look up your favorite passages. If I wasn’t using HCSB and NLT I would consider this at this point. I don’t feel like removing all the footnotes–sorry for the clutter. You can see there are 6 in this one alone and they can be easily seen on their web site.
Romans 12:1-3
12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters,1 by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God2 – which is your reasonable service. 12:2 Do not be conformed3 to this present world,4 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve5 what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
Conduct in Humility
12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you6 a measure of faith.
I like the NET, but my favorite is probably the ISV.
That’s another one that would be good give a try. It’s nice that both of them have editions for software like e-Sword.
Jeff
I also like the NET. I appreciate that they have such a wealth of resources on their website.
I also like that it’s different. It’s not a slightly revised version of another version or sounds almost exactly like another translation but it doesn’t go off and get too free. Not perfect of course. (Just ask Susan, she’d be glad to tell you many times over.)
Jeff
I agree, the NET is a very good Bible. The actual translation is often eclipsed by the 60,000+ notes (see for example the notes on John 1:1-4). They do have a “Reader’s Edition” which has fewer notes and would be easier to carry to church.
That’s good to know they have a reader’s version. The notes can be looked up online. Maybe they should have a “Notes Edition” with only the notes.
Jeff
I also like the NET, and it is the main translation I use after the TNIV. I frequently carry my NET to church, and I wouldn’t dream of buying the reader’s edition. The translation itself is pretty good, but the main appeal is the notes. I wouldn’t use it without them.
I bought it for my iPad, and gave my printed copy to my brother. It was just collecting dust anyhow.
I carry all of my translations to church now, thanks iPad!
Wow. Having a laptop and with iPads costing almost as much, and me not going out a lot there’s no way I’d get one. But if I won one I’d use it. Same with iPod Touch.
Jeff