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With all the various Bible translations out there, which translation do you use the most?
Please answer with where you are from, as well as your preferred translation.
We’ll post the results soon!
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NASB
Shoot…Reading, PA area and I use NASB - sorry for the double post
I’m from southern Oregon, and I have a NKJ and a New Living. I read the New Living more.
Hawaii // NASB
ESV
My preferred translation is NLT, but often will reference NRSV, MSG, and TNIV (usually in that order).
I live in Wilmore, KY (just south of Lexington). Yes, I am a product of Asbury Seminary. :)
The Message and NIV
Oklahoma City, usually NIV but sometimes the KJV.
NKJV - St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Fairfax, VA
Wilson, NC
I’m a youth pastor - I use the NIV and the MSG with my students. Our pastor usually uses the NKJV.
NLT Oklahoma
Preferred translation: TNIV
Location: other side of the office
NIV / NASB / NLT - Denver, CO
So, connected to the new Swerve format: I noticed the add karma/subtract karma icons in the Comments section. I am wondering if that is something you would want to keep on a blog hosted by Christ-followers.
Just a thought…
Chicago ‘burbs, NKJV although I’m starting to use the New American Standard more.
I use mostly the NIV but have all sorts of other translations here at home that I can use too. I live in Hamilton, Ohio which is just north of Cincinnati.
NASB or NIV for studying, NIV or Message for teaching. I’m a youth pastor from Everett, WA.
ESV OT NASB NT Oklahoma
irvine, ca :: NLT
DFW, TX
NASB and NLT. ESV is growing on me.
church uses NLT for Pew Bibles, I use ESV for personal.
San Clemente, CA
NASB
ESV for me
Representin’ Dallas, Texas and I use NASB and ESV.
NIV, NLT, The Message
oops! I forgot to say that I’m from Portland, OR (I should read more carefully!)
west palm beach, fl…ESV
I’m from North Central Oklahoma, near Stillwater. NLT
The Message // Kansas
from Nashville, TN - I use NLT and NIV.
NIV - Dallas, TX
Germantown, TN (suburb of Memphis). My favorite is the ESV, but I’ve just ordered an NLT to see what that’s like.
I grew up with NIV.
I’m considering a switch to ESV for my personal study and loving it so far.
Our church uses NASB for worship, NIV elsewhere.
I live in Buffalo, New York
ESV most of the time, NIV in groups (b/c that’s what everyone is using and it’s pretty good). Edmond, OK
New Living Translation (although serious Bible chaps insist on telling me it’s not actually a translation). I like it because I can understand it. If I ever studied the Bible I’m sure I would open lots of versions at once and pick the one with the best fonts and the most white space.
Mark Jaffrey, Egypt.
NIV and OKC.
NIV
oops… OK, USA
Currently using ESV, but have read through both TNIV and The Message. From Pacifica, CA!
Joyce Meyer Amplified Bible
ESV and MSG. Edmond, OK
NIV and Omaha, Nebraska
NKJV and NLT, but I’ve been checking out ESV lately. Grew up with NIV and NASB. Normally, I’ll go NKJV first and then use NLT to help clarify. Oh, and Riverside, California
ESV and KJV, Tulsa, OK
out of Rochester NY,
I use the NKJV but im looking to switch to the NIV.. doesn’t Youversion have it now?
ESV Florence, SC
ESV. Independence, MO
i use ESV and NASB when i am studying….when i am needing to read to connect…MSG
DFW, TX
Reading: NLT (I have never read the Bible so quickly.)
Reference/Memorization: N/KJV
Studying: Complete Jewish Bible, ESV, Young’s Literal, Green’s Literal, Strong’s Hebrew and Greek.
My main goto is the New Living Translation…On YouVersion I opt for the English standard Version…Sometimes for reference you have to go back to the NIV and KJV, and every now and then the message.
Peoria, Illinois
northern Virginia… NIV or NLT
bham
NLT - Lapeer, MI
Ames, IA - ESV and MSG
Across the Mississippi from St. Louis, MO, in Illinois.
Our Church in the states uses the NAB, but I prefer the RSV for my own reading.
New Living Translation 2nd edition
Since I’m a children’s pastor it’s usually NIV or readers version but occasionally NKJV. I live in West Des Moines, Iowa.
ESV - Sioux Falls, SD
TNIV and NRSV.
Minneapolis.
Oh, and the Hillbilly Bible http://www.lulu.com/content/1397430
“Fer the good Lord commenced to hankerin’ after the world something fierce, and up and gave ‘ees only boy so’s whoever took a notion to believe in ‘eem ort not die, but just keep on livin’ with ‘eem in heaven forever n’ ever.” (John 3:16, The Hillbilly Bible)
From the: UK
Mainly use: NLT
ESV most of the time. NIV sometimes. - Rapid City, SD
ESV. Love the word for word translation http://theresurgence.com/md_blog_2007-01-10_preaching_and_teaching_from_the_esv
NASB. From Fort Worth, TX.
NLT (New Living Translation)
NLT and then the message. Davenport, Iowa.
ESV Kalamazoo MI
NLT and MSG
Litchfield Park, AZ
nlt se and miami, fl
NIV when preaching. NLT for devotional study. Edmond, OK.
Maryville, TN - NASB
ESV & NKJV
Wisconsin - mainly NIV
Also NASB and NET Bible
For bible study (NASB or Net Bible), for casual reading (NIV or NLT), occassionally Message.
Translation of choice is the NET, though I will teach from the NIV, ESV, AKJV as well as the GODSWORD. In Hudson, Ohio…
NIV, NLT, and Message
Our church uses the NIV and we’re in southern California
I use my NIV Study Bible mainly but I also research in the NLT, KJV, NCV, and NKJV Life Application Bible.
Forgot location
Ocala, Florida
Orlando Florida - - NIV
tniv/niv and nlt. Dana Point, CA
I’m from Madison, Alabama and I use NLT…..I do reference and sometimes use NIV and the Message.
NIV and MSG
West Central Ohio
NIV and MSG
NIV, Alabama
ESV for study, NIV to teach. Dallas, TX
Wisconsin. TNIV
Wisconsin, NIV
When we planted the church 3.5 years ago, we used NLT - it was a great translation for 1st generation Christians and 1st generation Americans with limited educations. This January we switched to NIV because it offered the best variety of study Bibles and other resources. It’s thrilling to watch them grow in understanding & desire.
I, personally, use a wide variety in my study time.
Chilly ~ Detroit
hot springs, arkansas
translation: new living translation
paraphrase: the message remix
I am in Las Vegas and i use the NKJV mostly but any version that best communicates the message to a pre-christain culture i am on it.
Reina Valera 1960 Spanish
Perú SouthAmerica
ESV in Oklahoma. Sometimes NKJV.
Growing up, NIV only.
College, dabbled in NASB.
Past 6 months, switched to NET Bible.
Next version will be NLT.
Use the MSG for devotional use.
Broken Arrow, OK
Monroe, WA | NLT
Syracuse, NY - The Message
I have a NIV/MSG parallel that I love. And I love The Message by NavPress because when it wears out, they send you a new one… no questions asked. Like they did for me last week.
From Birmingham, AL and Derry, Northern Ireland
Depends… usually NASB or NIV. Also AMP, NKJV, CEV & MSG. :)
Appalachian mountains of NC.
ESV. Fayetteville, AR.
I use the NIV mostly, but never hesitate to pick up the NASB, NLT or the Message. I’m intrigued by the gravitation toward the ESV…I’m not very familiar with it. I currently reside in Morris, IL (far west Chicago suburbs).
I read many translations with computer software, but prefer the New Living Translation (NLT) for easy reading.
Shaun King
Atlanta, GA
http://www.ShaunInTheCity.com
I use the NLT for daily study and the NIV as my default for teaching but its nice to work in the Message or New Living every once in a while to help the word really resonate well.
nlt, brisbane australia
kjv/esv respectively
ESV and TNIV
Grand Prairie, TX
NLT/TNIV/MSG, Cartersville, Georgia
TNIV // San Diego, CA
NLT, NKJV, and the Message. And I love YouVersion.
NIV // Newcastle, Australia
TNIV // Overland Park, KS
Either NRSV or NIV with the Message as a regular backup.
New English Translation (NET) (available for free http://www.bible.org)
Dallas, TX
Charlotte NC NASB
Australia | ESV
NIV primary, but also like ESV a lot.
Elkhart, Indiana
Preferences in order: TNIV, NIV, ESV
Storrs, Connecticut
NIV, some NRSV, often looking at my parallel TNIV/Message
Salem NH - NLT and NASB
Mostly NIV and MSG- I’m from Florida (Go Gators!)
NASB - Tallahassee, Fl
Terre Haute, Indiana
NIV and sometimes NLT. We have been known to kick it old school sometimes with the KJV.
I study and read the TNIV. I teach from and our students use the NIV since it is more common.
NIV and ESV - Concord, NC
Turlock, CA I study/read in the New Living the most.
Amelia, OH - NIV, NLT
East Central Indiana - NIV
Rochelle, Illinois. ESV & NLT
Greenville, SC
Usually read NLT, but I love to cross-ref the Message
TNIV (in the uber-hot land of Arizona.)
tniv tulsa
NIV life application, without a doubt
again with the oops… Joliet, IL
NLT mainly but use the NIV every now and then. Lexington, KY.
NIV for preach and teaching
I mainly use NIV for study and the NLT or CEV for reading. Ocassionally I use the KJV or NKJV. From Merredin Western Australia
PS. Love Sunny’s comment about being on the other side of the room!
South Florida
ESV
How many subscribers does this blog have? My God! 133 comments in 5 hours?
NLT - 1st Choice
NIV - 2nd choice
Really liking the ESV and using it more and more.
Mississippi
ESV
ESV, sorry forgot the location: San Diego, CA
Living in the deep ‘burbs of Chicago…
NLT for reading
NIV but moving toward ESV for study
and I’m a children’s pastor so I lean toward NIrV for teaching.
For speaking to college/20’s–NLT and The Message. I also use the NLT study and NKJV study for my reading.
Sorry–western NY soon to be Cincinnati
Thanks everyone.
Carl, we have several thousands of people who either subcribe and/or visit the blog each day.
New Living Translation, most of the time.
Frisco, Tx
Maryland, ESV.
Lake Mary, FL. NKJV or NIV to teach and NCV for personal study.
Hickory, KY, NIV and NKJV for personal study and some teaching. Holman CSV for preaching and teaching.
NLT primarily, but I’m beginning to use ESV and HCSB more and more. South Texas here. Specifically, Corpus Christi
NIV and The Message
Cincinnati, OH
NLT, Virginia
NW Phoenix
Study and preach out of NASB, use NLT for personal devotions and as a parallel for more difficult passages while preaching.
By the way, the new Swerve site is smoking! LC and the EF guys are an incredible team.
NIV Study Bible and Reference The Message often.
Sorry, forgot location. Longmont, CO
I mainly use NIV since I have a physical one to carry around. Although, I usually link to TNIV on my blog.
Chris Chowdhury (near Detroit, MI)
NKJV most then The Message, plus a lot of others less often. Still use KJV for personal devotions
NIV - Brainerd, MN
the main translation is nkjv but a close second is nlt
NLT
Seattle, WA
From Alabama living in Japan. I use Biblegateway.net to read the NLT and am now really enjoying Tyndale’s Manga version: The Manga Messiah
Portland, OR I use ESV
90% NLT / 8% NIV / 2% NASB (Southern California)
Indiana - NIV; TheMessage usually for a scripture in a worship set (I’m a worship pastor).
I am the leader of a LifeChurch.tv network church, The Well. I use the NIV and the Message for study, reading and devotions.
New Living Translation - Augusta, GA
I prefer the NIV
NIV for reading. NASB for study.
NASB for study, reading.
Refer to NLT quite a bit in my teaching.
Sheboygan Falls, WI
NASB from Taylors, SC.
NIV and NASB mostly. Although I do take into account who the audience is if it is for teaching or speaking. Texas!
From Ohio and use the Message version.
central PA
NIV and/or Message for teaching students
ESV for me
Birmingham Al - NLT
I Use the NIV primarily, but refer to KJV, NASB, ESV, NLT and the Message freguently in study.
NIV–Blacksburg, VA
NLT - Cape Town, South Africa
KJV - Because of the Text From which it was translated.
Olin, NC
I normally read from NLT, but sometimes I find that I prefer the way certain passages are written in the NIV. Moore, OK
Hamtramck (Detroit), MI - ESV
NASB or ESV, love them both - Sioux Falls, SD
NLT - DFW area
oklahoma city ok
we use:
1. esv
2. holman christian standard bible
Seacoast, NH and the NLT is my translation of choice
Switched to the TNIV last year.
The NCV recently to mix it up a bit.
London, On.
I am partial to the NLT and the MSG, but they all have their value (esp., NIV & NKVJ).
Alabama - NIV then NLT
NY. NLT + Message
NLT and TNIV are working right now.
CA. KJV
Maine ESV
I prefer the NIV and the ESV. I don’t really do a lot of paraphrases, but I like some of the MSG as a supplement to the other two. Oh, from Tennessee.
Lima, OH … NLT
TNIV, MSG, ESV in that order. Occasional reading of NLT and Complete Jewish Bible.
ESV from Birmingham, AL.
TNIV & NRSV
Shattuck, OK
NLT NIV NLV
Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
NASB, NIV, ESV
Waldorf, MD, USA (outside D.C)
ESV - Columbia, SC
NLT NIV
Birmingham, AL
Very interesting to see the responses!
NIV
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
NIV when speaking
with The MSG and Holman Christian Standard for study
My fave is the NASV, but I find that I use the NLT more when communicating to others through my blog.
Wilmington, North Carolina
NASB
Baton Rouge, LA
ESV (primary). May use Message to better communicate a point if I feel it translates and communicates well.
Hudson, Quebec
For daily reading I use different versions consecutively, reading through the entire Bible one version at a time - NIV, NLT, RSV, New Century, Message.
For study or preparing a message I gravitate towards NIV with reference made to KJV/NKJV and RSV but all the other versions I mentioned end up informing my understanding.
NLT
Coming to you from Y-Town!!
Youngstown, OH
I’m I the lone New England representative? I use NLT mostly. Newport, RI
(And Craig, I’m still waiting to take you to Dunkin Donuts when you’re in the area.)
I am from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. I use the NIV primarily but my secondary translation is the Message.
Raleigh, NC
I’m a fan of the NIV, but I’ve been reading through “The Message” bible lately, and it’s starting to grow on me!
ESV
Dixon, CA
NLT (Peoria, IL)
New Living Translation (Pauls Valley, Okla)
I’ve been using The Message for daily reading (and listening), but like NIV if I’m picking out a verse to quote or memorize. DFW area.
Wichita, KS — I use the NIV or MSG.
ESV…nothing like it! Spencer, IN
NIV/message
Las Vegas, NV
I use the NLT for reading, and the NASB and NIV for study.
Collinsville, Virignia
NASB for preaching
NLT for reading and writing
The Message for extra inspiration
KJV to keep my office shelves balanced
NLT for reading and teaching. NASB for word study. Las Vegas.
NIV, ESV, RSV, NLT and occasionally NKJV
I prefer the NLT over all.
Clover, SC
I use NKJV for study and NLT for general reading. I really enjoy the NLT after starting using it last year.
Woops, forgot - I’m in Nashvegas baby!
I prefer either the NIV or the NKJV. Both were translations used at churches I attended for long periods of time.
I’m from NJ.
NKJV
From UK originally, now living in NC.
Florence, SC
ESV
From: Rushford, NY
Version: NIV
Website: http://www.rushfordbaptist.com
I switch it up all the time to keep it fresh. Personally like NLT and NASB but haven’t read ESV yet.(Since I write kids’ curriculum, I use biblegateway all the stinkin’ time to find and compare verses I want. I need them accurate but only with words kids will get. No one translation is best at that. Edmond, OK
I use the NLT and (like Kendra uses BibleGateway.com) I abuse e-Sword because of the inline Greek and Hebrew definitions built into the KJV (which is my second most-preferred translation).
Side note: I began to understand (and like) Paul’s personality a little better after I read his letters in The Message. I often used to wonder if I would have *liked* him had I met him in person.
Indianapolis, IN.
I use ESV. It has accuracy like NASB without archaic words.
nobody just uses the plain old Greek? yea, me neither.
I live in Carlsbad, Ca // NRSV
NIV . . . followed closely by NLT
NIV…
Norman, OK
ESV and NIV
I’m from Atlanta, GA - attend Buckhead Church
Message//REMIX
NASB
Fort Worth, Texas
[...] to everyone who commented on the previous post I wrote asking about Bible translations. I think we set a record number of [...]
I use the NIV and Message translations.
Oklahoma City- I read the NLT and teach out of the NIV
TNIV primarily. Long Beach, Ca.
I’ll start to read it in NIV, but may use the KJV in the computer to find it, because that’s how I memorized it as a kid. Then like a typical male with a remote control in hand, I flip around looking to see how else the verse is rendered. ESV is sure building momentum, isn’t it?
NIV and Message combined…Hendersonville, TN or Nashvegas suburb!
For serious study, NASB. For teaching, ESV.
Houston, TX
Tallahassee, FL
I prefer to use both the Message and the NLT for reading and teaching. For studying, I may also use the NIV, Amplified, and/or NKJV. Often, I simply alternate between these on BibleGateway.com in order to minimize the clutter on my desk.
Favorite Version: The Message
When will the NLT be available? i find this version the best of all translations (next to the kjv).
please let me know!