I have the edition that’s has a red cover and red on the outside of the pages and it’s like a pew Bible. I’m wondering if the one with the green cover is any different.

I just switched to the HCSB! I read the NIV for over 20 years. I got tired of it and found others I liked better. I used the NRSV for three years which I felt was more “accurate” and “literal” which were both extremely important to me. I got tired of the antiquated language. I didn’t know about the HCSB when I chose the NRSV. Either that or I didn’t pay attention to it unfortunately. I read the HCSB on and off for a year to really make sure I wanted to switch to it because I don’t want to switch often.

But now I’m really getting to like the REB. It can be difficult because some of the language is British in nature (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and it uses some big words. But they aren’t afraid to use a wide vocabulary to express the meaning of the languages. At the same time it’s not difficult to read and doesn’t contain as much Biblish as many others, and it’s unique.

One problem I’ve found with trying to find a translation that’s close to how I speak is I’m always coming across things where I think, “I would never say it like that.” Even the NLT has a little annoyance for me where they use the word for instead of because which isn’t how hardly any of us speak nowadays. We don’t say, “I’m going to the store, for I am hungry.” Although ironically, even though I’m waffling about my primary translation, there is no question that the NLT remains my secondary translation that I use in a specific way.

So how about reading a translation that doesn’t sound how you speak, but at the same time isn’t KJV tradition Biblish? That way I wouldn’t constantly be thinking, “I wouldn’t say it like that.” Our friend who used to blog, and uses the REB, ElShaddai Edwards made a great comment on Facebook. He said something to the effect of we might write differently than we speak, and we may want to read a Bible that’s in a somewhat different ‘register’ than we speak too. (This doesn’t include Esteban). I’m not saying the REB is anything at all like my writing, at third grade reading level in my estimation, I’m just saying.

In my estimation, the REB is the best literary translation of the popular ones out there but it’s not difficult to read except for some words that need to be looked up and it makes some passages exceptionally clear.

One thing I have to say about waffling though is, I wonder how much of it is just liking something that’s different. I don’t know if that’s the case here. So I will spend a lot of time with it like I did the HCSB. It may be a phase. I may end up preferring the HCSB with its correct rendering of John 3:16, slaves instead of servants where appropriate, because instead of for in many instances (like Matt 5:3ff), more familiar language etc. Can’t go wrong either way.

In looking at many of the memorized passages, I was very impressed this time around. I also read through Proverbs and had a great time with it.

Here are some passages that I thought I’d point out:

Romans 8:5-6 REB
Those who live on the level of the old nature have their outlook formed by it, and that spells death; but those who live on the level of the spirit have the spiritual outlook, and that is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6 TNIV
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Read Louis’ post On Having a “Controlled Mind”.

From what I have read in commentaries, this verse in 2 Corinthians expresses the meaning much better or makes it easier for me to understand:

2 Cor 5:17 REB
For anyone united to Christ, there is a new creation: the old order has gone; a new order has already begun.

2 Cor 5:17 TNIV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

The NIV says, “The old has gone, the new has come!” I think the TNIV is an improvement, but I always though this meant the old man has gone and the new has come. The REB is explicit about what has gone and come.

Those are just a couple of examples and I’m sure people could come up with examples where they think the REB falls short. I just wanted to post a couple of examples to illustrate what much of this translation does for me.

I’d love to hear thoughts on what was written above about reading a Bible that’s different than what you speak, which was always the opposite of my aim, but also very understandable (while expanding one’s vocabulary in the case of the REB) and not filled with Biblish that’s just a revision of what came before and before and before…

I leave you with my favorite passage that I’ve read so far. Compare it with any other modern translation.

2 Cor 4:7 REB
But we have only earthenware jars to hold this treasure, and this proves that such transcendent power does not come from us; it is God’s alone. We are hard pressed, but never cornered; bewildered, but never at our wits’ end; hunted, but never abandoned to our fate; struck down, but never killed. Wherever we go we carry with us in our body the death that Jesus died, so that in this body also the life that Jesus lives may be revealed.

Also see:
The Revised English Bible (Top Ten Bible Versions #6)

The Revised English Bible isn’t online so those of us who have a print version or who have Accordance Bible software have the privilege of reading some of the passages that especially benefit from its literary qualities.

I earlier posted a passage from 2 Corinthians 4 which I thought was especially good.

I recently read through Ephesians in the REB for something different and especially liked this passage.

Ephesians 6:10-18 REB
Finally, find your strength in the Lord, in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour provided by God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the strategems of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against human foes, but against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark age, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore, take up the armour of God; then you will be able to withstand them on the evil day and, after doing your utmost, to stand your ground. 14 Stand fast, I say. Fasten on the belt of truth; for a breastplate put on integrity; 15 let the shoes on our feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing; 16 and, with all these, take up the great shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the burning arrows of the evil one. 17 Accept salvation as your helmet, and the sword which the Spirit gives you, the word of God. 18 Constantly ask God’s help in prayer, and pray always in the power of the Spirit. To this end keep watch and persevere, always interceding for all God’s people.

I was looking up the Thayer’s definition of the Greek word στενοχωρέω (stenochōreō) commonly translated as crushed.

2 Corinthians 4:8a
We are pressured in every way but not crushed;

Thayer Definition:
1) to be in a narrow place
2) to straiten, compress, cramp, reduce to straits
2a) to be sorely straitened in spirit

From this definition I’m not getting why the word crushed is so commonly used. It’s reminiscent of Psalm 34:18 but that’s different. I don’t have TDNT or BDAG.

At the risk of being disrespectful to Scripture, my own very bad paraphrase would be:
“It feels like the world is caving in on us but we are not smushed;”

Any insight into why crushed it used?

The main reason for this post is I looked this up in the REB and think it’s magnificent and want to type it out for those of you who don’t have the translation. You’ll see they chose the word cornered.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have only earthenware jars to hold this treasure, and this proves that such transcendent power does not come from us; it is God’s alone. 8 We are hard pressed, but never cornered; bewildered, but never at our wits’ end; 9 hunted, but never abandoned to our fate; struck down, but never killed. 10 Wherever we go we carry with us in our body the death that Jesus died, so that in this body also the life that Jesus lives may be revealed. 11 For Jesus’s sake we are all our life being handed over to death, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in this mortal body of ours. 12 Thus death is at work in us, but life in you.

I was taking some pictures today and thought I would post this view of the REB.

I memorized Matthew 10:29-30 to music in the ESV. (See Free Scripture Memory Songs.) The ESV is rather awkward for this passage so I thought I would look at some other translations and found there is a quite a bit of variance.

I don’t know Greek and am not trained in linguistics or translation so I can’t say which I think is the “best” translation. I can only write about (or share to use the popular lingo) my own observations.

Anyone can look up a bunch of translations and post them but I hope to add some value by posting the REB and Lattimore; literary style translations that aren’t available on the web.

Matthew 10:29-31 ESV
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

As far as the passage goes, v. 30 seems abrupt but this is what it says and v. 31 extrapolates it.

As far as the ESV goes that archaic language comes up again. I’m not sure what “apart from your father” means. But fear not, there are other translations!

Matthew 10:29-31 KJV
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

ESV isn’t much different than the KJV…

Matthew 10:29-31 HCSB
Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 Don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 NET
Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

I don’t usually like the NET but like it a lot here.

Matthew 10:29-31 Lattimore
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And one of them will not fall to the ground without the knowledge of your father. Also, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Then do not fear; you are worth many sparrows.

As usual, this literary translation flows very well. I like also instead of but which the NET leaves out.

Matthew 10:29-31 REB
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet without your Father’s knowledge not one of them can fall to the ground. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than any number of sparrows.

I just got the REB and this is the first passage I looked up. This is a really nice rendering.

I like v. 31 in the REB much more than the Lattimore if only I would like to think I’m “worth more than any number of sparrows” instead of many.

Regarding HCSB, NET, Lattimore and REB: Where other translations just say “without/apart from [your Father]” these say apart from your Father’s will, consent or knowledge. In looking up without, Thayer’s says,
“ἄνευ
aneu
Thayer Definition:
1) without one’s will or intervention”
so I like the inclusion of that part if it’s universally accepted.

Matthew 10:29-31 MSG
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. 30 He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail–even numbering the hairs on your head! 31 So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

All I will say is I like v. 30 a lot.

Now I want to get away from the critical translation comparisons. I want to study the Scriptures and use translations for insight and perspective. I want to guard against spending too much time on pitting this translation vs. that translation.