Bibles come in a variety of formats and sizes. Many are targeted for specific people or special occasions. Some have additional material for devotion or study. Here are the most popular Bible translations grouped by type, with a brief description, a sample reading, and a link that will allow you to quickly find more Bibles of the same type.
ALL BIBLES | WORD-FOR-WORD | THOUGHT-FOR-THOUGHT | PARAPHRASE
Common English Bible
Translation Type: Hybrid verbal equivalent with dynamic balance and common language.
Target Audience: Bible readers of all ages.
Denominational Affiliation: Interdenominational
Publisher: Abingdon Press (Sole Distributor)
Year Released: 2010, 2011
Contemporary English Version
Translation Type: Dynamic Equivalence - thought-for-thought
Target Audience: Unchurched.
Denominational Affiliation: Conservative, evangelical and mainline
Publisher: American Bible Society
Year Released: 1995
Complete Jewish Bible
Translation Type: Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience: Jews and Christians interested in Jewish roots.
Denominational Affiliation: Messianic Jewish
Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publishers / Jewish New Testament Publications
Year Released: 1998
Good News Translation
Translation Type: Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience: Evangelical and mainline Protestant. Catholic Orthodox.
Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical snd interconfessional
Publisher: American Bible Society
Year Released: 1976, 1992, 2001
International Children's Bible
Translation Type: Dynamic Equivalence: thought-for-thought
Target Audience: Elementary readers
Denominational Affiliation: Broad evangelical
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Year Released: 1989
The Message
Translation Type: Paraphrase. Contemporary equivalence.
Target Audience: People who have never read the Bible. Long time Christians wanting to read with new eyes.
Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical
Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
Year Released: 2002
New Century Version
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence.
Target Audience: Those who want a highly readable translation of the Bible in today's language.
Denominational Affiliation: Conservative and evangelical
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Year Released: 1988, 1991
New International Reader's Version
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence. Simplified NIV with an emphasis on meaning when necessary.
Target Audience: Children ages 10 and under and adults.
Denominational Affiliation: Conservative and evangelical
Publisher: Zondervan
Year Released: 1996, 1998
New International Version
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence. Balance between between word-for-word and thought-for-thought.
Target Audience: Bible readers of all ages.
Denominational Affiliation: Conservative and evangelical
Publisher: Zondervan
Year Released: 1978, 1984, 2010
New Living Translation
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence. Thought-for-thought, original meaning focused.
Target Audience: For readers of all ages desiring a readable contemporary English translation.
Denominational Affiliation: None. Broadly conservative and evangelical.
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released: 1996, 2004, 2015
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence. Spanish
Target Audience: Adults and children.
Denominational Affiliation: All mainstream evangelical denominations.
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released: 2010
The Living Bible
Translation Type: Paraphrase
Target Audience: Adults and children.
Denominational Affiliation: All denominations
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Year Released: 1971
Tree of Life Version
Translation Type: A balanced, vetted translation with Hebrew words and concepts.
Target Audience: Messianic Jews and non-Jewish Christians interested in the Jewish essence of the Bible.
Denominational Affiliation: Messianic Jewish
Publisher: Baker
Year Released: 2016
The Voice
Translation Type: Dynamic equivalence.
Target Audience: Those seeking to connect or reconnect with God.
Denominational Affiliation: Broad evangelical
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Year Released: 2012
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the Amplified Bible
The Amplified Bible attempts to be as literal as possible and includes added context, through the use of additional words in brackets, parentheses and italics, as well as outside sources to assist readers in understanding the difficult parts of Scripture. This translation allows you to read a word-for-word translation but has amplified word meanings to help break down the language barrier.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
About the CSB
Developed by more than 100 scholars from 17 denominations, the CSB faithfully and accurately captures the Bible’s original meaning without compromising readability. It’s appropriate for Bible readers of all ages, for preaching and serious study, daily reading, and for sharing with others.
For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
About the ESV
The English Standard Version was modeled after the highly accurate King James Version, English Revised Version, and American Standard Version, but provides far easier readability. It is noted for its "word-for-word" accuracy, as well as capturing the personal style of each Bible writer.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.
About the GNT
Previously known as the Good News Bible or Today's English Version, the Good News Translation was published in 1976 as a "common language" Bible. It presents the text in clear and simple language, while still remaining faithful to the original languages. Many editions of the Good News Translation also include small drawings of biblical events to supplement the text.
For God loved the world in this way:[a] He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the HCSB
The Holman Christian Standard Bible was translated with the goal of creating an optimal balance between word-for-word translation and thought-for-thought translation. Delivering a text that features contemporary English, this translation still stays faithful to the original languages of the Bible. The HCSB also takes into account more recent manuscript discoveries.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
About the KJV
The King James Version of the Bible was originally printed in 1611, but has gone through three revisions since then, incorporating over 100,000 changes. While it was translated extremely well, many of the words used aren’t found in today’s English language or have different meanings. However, the KJV is still believed by many to be the most literal English translation available. It is widely used for memorizing Scripture and for worship.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
About the MSG
The Message is a translation designed to get people reading the Bible, rather than studying it. Eugene Peterson translated The Message directly from the original languages, without using any English translations as references, and the result is a very contemporary translation. However, no verses are used, making it difficult to look up specific passages.
For God so loved the world that he gave[a] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[b] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
About the NAB
The New American Bible is the first complete American Catholic Bible that was translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages. Every edition includes the Apocryphal books. It was translated by a team of 55 scholars, including some Protestants, with the focus being on a word-for-word translation that also reads well. Since 2002, the NAB is the only English Bible that can be used at Mass in dioceses of the United States.
For God so loved the world that he gave[a] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[b] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the NASB
The New American Standard Bible is considered one of the most literally translated 20th century English translations. The old English has been updated to modern English but still maintains a word-for-word translation style. However, because of its dedication to literalism, the readability is not as smooth as other contemporary translations.
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.
About the NIRV
The New International Reader’s Version follows a similar strategy as the New International Version, but simplifies the language even more. This simplification makes the NIrV particularly accessible to children and those who struggle with reading English. A great starter Bible to get your young ones reading the Word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
About the NIV
The New International Version of the Bible is one of the most popular translations in history, and the official Bible translation of many churches around the world. The NIV attempts to balance word-for-word with phrase-by-phrase translations, providing a mix of readability and staying true to the original Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew languages. Some people find the language too simple, though, sacrificing accuracy for more contemporary English. It is ideal for study, preaching and reading. Many good Bibles and study resources are available for the NIV.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
About the NKJV
The New King James Version of the Bible maintains the accuracy of the original King James, yet presents Scripture with clarity to help today's modern reader understand God's Word. This updated version removes the “thees” and “thous” and applies more recent research and findings in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies that the KJV didn’t take into account.
For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
About the NLT
The translators of the New Living Translation set out to create a text that would have the same impact on readers now as the original text had on people who read it in their languages. The result is a translation that features contemporary English and translated thoughts rather than just words, which means an easy to read and understand version of the Bible.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
About the NRSV
The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is considered one of the most ecumenical translations, meaning scholars from many different denominations took part in its creation. This version draws from the same philosophy as the King James Version and the American Standard Version in its attempt to stay as literal as possible. The NRSV does use more gender-neutral language though, which some believe reduces its accuracy.
Pues Dios amó tanto al mundo que dio[a] a su único Hijo, para que todo el que crea en él no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna. Dios no envió a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para salvarlo por medio de él.
Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna. Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son[a] so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
About the Living Bible
The Living Bible was created by Kenneth L. Taylor because he wanted to put the Bible in a language his children could understand. Using the American Standard Version (1901) as his base text, Taylor attempts to say exactly what the writers of the Scriptures meant, but in such a way that is clear to modern readers. It is particularly beneficial for people who haven't ever read the Bible or use English as a second language.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.
The good news of the Bible is meant to be shared. A translation that hits the sweet spot between fidelity and readability opens the door for every believer to enjoy God's Word for a lifetime.
Many modern translations strive to balance contemporary English readability with the linguistic precision of the original languages. Others strive for a reliable, readable translation that enhances study while maintaining the poetry of the original King James Version. The choice is up to you!
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the Amplified Bible
The Amplified Bible attempts to be as literal as possible and includes added context, through the use of additional words in brackets, parentheses and italics, as well as outside sources to assist readers in understanding the difficult parts of Scripture. This translation allows you to read a word-for-word translation but has amplified word meanings to help break down the language barrier.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
About the CSB
Developed by more than 100 scholars from 17 denominations, the CSB faithfully and accurately captures the Bible’s original meaning without compromising readability. It’s appropriate for Bible readers of all ages, for preaching and serious study, daily reading, and for sharing with others.
For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
About the ESV
The English Standard Version was modeled after the highly accurate King James Version, English Revised Version, and American Standard Version, but provides far easier readability. It is noted for its "word-for-word" accuracy, as well as capturing the personal style of each Bible writer.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.
About the GNT
Previously known as the Good News Bible or Today's English Version, the Good News Translation was published in 1976 as a "common language" Bible. It presents the text in clear and simple language, while still remaining faithful to the original languages. Many editions of the Good News Translation also include small drawings of biblical events to supplement the text.
For God loved the world in this way:[a] He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the HCSB
The Holman Christian Standard Bible was translated with the goal of creating an optimal balance between word-for-word translation and thought-for-thought translation. Delivering a text that features contemporary English, this translation still stays faithful to the original languages of the Bible. The HCSB also takes into account more recent manuscript discoveries.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
About the KJV
The King James Version of the Bible was originally printed in 1611, but has gone through three revisions since then, incorporating over 100,000 changes. While it was translated extremely well, many of the words used aren’t found in today’s English language or have different meanings. However, the KJV is still believed by many to be the most literal English translation available. It is widely used for memorizing Scripture and for worship.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
About the MSG
The Message is a translation designed to get people reading the Bible, rather than studying it. Eugene Peterson translated The Message directly from the original languages, without using any English translations as references, and the result is a very contemporary translation. However, no verses are used, making it difficult to look up specific passages.
For God so loved the world that he gave[a] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[b] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
About the NAB
The New American Bible is the first complete American Catholic Bible that was translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages. Every edition includes the Apocryphal books. It was translated by a team of 55 scholars, including some Protestants, with the focus being on a word-for-word translation that also reads well. Since 2002, the NAB is the only English Bible that can be used at Mass in dioceses of the United States.
For God so loved the world that he gave[a] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[b] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
About the NASB
The New American Standard Bible is considered one of the most literally translated 20th century English translations. The old English has been updated to modern English but still maintains a word-for-word translation style. However, because of its dedication to literalism, the readability is not as smooth as other contemporary translations.
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.
About the NIRV
The New International Reader’s Version follows a similar strategy as the New International Version, but simplifies the language even more. This simplification makes the NIrV particularly accessible to children and those who struggle with reading English. A great starter Bible to get your young ones reading the Word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
About the NIV
The New International Version of the Bible is one of the most popular translations in history, and the official Bible translation of many churches around the world. The NIV attempts to balance word-for-word with phrase-by-phrase translations, providing a mix of readability and staying true to the original Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew languages. Some people find the language too simple, though, sacrificing accuracy for more contemporary English. It is ideal for study, preaching and reading. Many good Bibles and study resources are available for the NIV.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
About the NKJV
The New King James Version of the Bible maintains the accuracy of the original King James, yet presents Scripture with clarity to help today's modern reader understand God's Word. This updated version removes the “thees” and “thous” and applies more recent research and findings in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies that the KJV didn’t take into account.
For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
About the NLT
The translators of the New Living Translation set out to create a text that would have the same impact on readers now as the original text had on people who read it in their languages. The result is a translation that features contemporary English and translated thoughts rather than just words, which means an easy to read and understand version of the Bible.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
About the NRSV
The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is considered one of the most ecumenical translations, meaning scholars from many different denominations took part in its creation. This version draws from the same philosophy as the King James Version and the American Standard Version in its attempt to stay as literal as possible. The NRSV does use more gender-neutral language though, which some believe reduces its accuracy.
Pues Dios amó tanto al mundo que dio[a] a su único Hijo, para que todo el que crea en él no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna. Dios no envió a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para salvarlo por medio de él.
Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna. Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son[a] so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
About the Living Bible
The Living Bible was created by Kenneth L. Taylor because he wanted to put the Bible in a language his children could understand. Using the American Standard Version (1901) as his base text, Taylor attempts to say exactly what the writers of the Scriptures meant, but in such a way that is clear to modern readers. It is particularly beneficial for people who haven't ever read the Bible or use English as a second language.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life. Here’s the point. God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge it; instead, He is here to rescue a world headed toward certain destruction.
The good news of the Bible is meant to be shared. A translation that hits the sweet spot between fidelity and readability opens the door for every believer to enjoy God's Word for a lifetime.
Many modern translations strive to balance contemporary English readability with the linguistic precision of the original languages. Others strive for a reliable, readable translation that enhances study while maintaining the poetry of the original King James Version. The choice is up to you!