Hand-in-Hand Ministries of Connecticut
Modern Translations
There are many modern translations. We list just a few of the more importent ones, together with that version's translation of the familiar passage Psalms 23:1. The NKJV is, as the name implies, an update of the KJV, using the same sources. The conservative, but dry and less poetic NASB is a reliable, rather literal translation. The NIV is a good, solid modern translation and has become very popular. The NIrV is an excellant variation of the NIV, but using a limited and carefully selected vocabulary designed for for young or new readers of English. The NLT is a graceful, modern paraphrase of the Bible. A paraphrase differs from a translation in that it seeks to convey the meaning with words that may not be exactly the equivalent of the original.
An importent consideration in selecting a Bible is knowing which version is used in the church you attend as you will want to be able to follow along during sermons and scripture readings. Many find it useful to have different versions for comparison. This is especially true if you are using the beautiful, but difficult KJV.