New American Standard Reference Edition. 1973. God. 1899 pages. [Source: Bought]
First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
This was my second time to read the 1973 text edition of the New American Standard Bible. [I have read the 1971, 1973, 1977, 1995, and 2020.] I read it through the first time in February 2021. I did start underlining in it. [Since I bought it used, for about $2, and since it already had handwriting in it.] I continued underlining more the second time through. It is always interesting to me how different verses "pop" at you when you read. [Of course, some always pop at you.]
I used the NASB 1973 for my Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer. I started this read through on August 29, 2022 and finished on October 23, 2022.
PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
What do you need to know about it?
1) It's out of print and long out of print. Lockman is unlikely to reprint the 1971 or the 1973 editions of the New American Standard Bible. Though the 1977 can be found now and then newly published. IF you want to find the 1973, used is the only way to get it I'd imagine.
2) It is a REFERENCE edition. Cross references are found on the side--the outside side as opposed to the center column. Those that love side column references, this one is great!
3) It features at least 25 completely blank pages. I don't know what note-takers would consider generous (versus stingy) in terms of blank pages and space to write...but I thought it was generous all things considered. I don't know of any (non-note-taker, non-journaling) modern Bibles that offer so much room for writing.
4) It is verse by verse. I know some Bible readers would rejoice over this verse by verse format. New paragraphs are noted by a bold verse number.
5) It is black letter. It does NOT present the Words of Christ in red. (Again there was much rejoicing...at least by some).
6) I don't have a font size; but if I had to guess I'd say somewhere between 8 and 9. That's a complete guess on my part. It's not overly large font but it wasn't hard to read. The paper wasn't amazing, but it wasn't horrible for bleed-through either. Nice in-between neither great nor horrible.
7) The 'bells and whistles' of this one:
*foreword
*Fourfold Aim of the Lockman Foundation
*Preface to the New American Standard Bible
*Explanation of General Format
*Old Testament Table of Contents
*New Testament Table of Contents
*Concordance (115 pages)
*16 color maps
© Becky Laney of
Operation Actually Read Bible
