15.5 KJV New Testament and Psalms with Poems by Helen Steiner Rice

New Testament and Psalms with Poems by Helen Steiner Rice (KJV). God (and Helen Steiner Rice). 1994. (Revell publishing house). 508 pages. [Source: Bought] 5 STARS.

First sentence: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham

I thrifted this one. I do recommend it if you come across it. The size font is lovely. It is double column. It is black letter. It features illustrated poems by Helen Steiner Rice. If you enjoy poetry, then this one has an extra devotional bonus. If you don't enjoy poetry, these sections are easy to skip over. There are a few sections where poems are grouped together. The poems are inspired by particular verses and definite themes of Scripture.

The book is larger than many New Testament only New Testaments. This is the size of a regular book, or a journal. The size font is easy on the eyes. The color is nice and dark. Nothing faint. The ghosting is minimal. What little ghosting there is, is not a distraction. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

6. English Standard Version (Large Print)

ESV Large Print Bible. God. Crossway Publishers. 2001/2011. 1408 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I used my revised "Power 60" Bible reading plan. Well, perhaps I didn't follow it exactly. I started May 26, 2023 and finished July 5, 2023. Clearly less than sixty days. But I'm like that. 

I read mostly from the Large Print edition. Give or take a few days subtraction/distraction. The truth is I couldn't settle down. I read two or three days in the ESV Creeds Bible. I read two or three days in the ESV Reformation Bible. But for the most part, like I said, I read from the Large Print edition. My copy--purchased used--is the 2011 edition of the ESV text. There has been another update. 

This particular edition of the Bible is double column, black letter, decent font size. 

I love the English Standard Version. It probably isn't my all-time favorite, favorite number one translation. But it's definitely in my top three. I've read it several times this year already. (Though to be fair, both, I believe were projects started in November or December of 2022. They just happened to finish in 2023.) 

I do recommend this translation. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

4. The NIV Rainbow Study Bible

The NIV Rainbow Study Bible. (NIV 1984) 1992. 1576 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

I've read several Rainbow Study Bibles before. I have it in the King James Version, the NIV 2011, and the NIV 1984. (I also have it in the CSB. But I am not a fan of the CSB Rainbow Study Bible because they switched THE MEANINGS TO ALL THE COLOR CODES.) 

This one is no longer in print. (Obviously). You can still find Rainbow Study Bibles. It's just that Zondervan has completely and totally discontinued the 1984 edition of the New International Version. 

Each verse of the Bible is color coded. Colors represents topics, themes, concepts. 

It is double-column. 

The whole Bible is the Word of God--breathed out by God. But some verses are underlined indicating a direct quote. For example, Jesus in the gospels. But in the Old Testament there are underlined verses as well. (Thus saith the Lord, etc.)

I love the translation. This is not my favorite and best edition of that translation. I had high hopes, but, life is just hard when your vision is less than ideal, to say the least. I am glad I bought it. But this one won't be replacing my favorite NIV 1984. 

Start date: March 11, 2023

End date: May 20, 2023

Used with the Book of Common Prayer.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. NRSV XL

NRSV XL: Holy Bible. God. 2007. 1824 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.

Three things you should know from the start:

1) It is the Anglicised NRSV.

2) It is the Anglicised Catholic NRSV. (Yes, there is an Anglicised NRSV that is not the Catholic edition). There are extra books of the Bible in this one. (Though not the full apocrypha.)

3) It is square. 

Is it extra large text? It is a matter of perspective, I suppose. I vote no. Others might vote yes. The publishers think this is extra large font. The publisher description says the font size is 12. I'm suspicious. 

It is double column. Because the book is square, the double columns are wider, perhaps acting more like a single column. (For better or worse).

It is black letter. Words of Christ are in black. This is definitely a plus.

It is in paragraph format, not verse by verse. 

The WEAKEST element of this one. The PAGES are horrible. Absolutely horrible. You can look at a page and it will start to wrinkle, to crinkle, to fold up on itself. No touching required for the pages to start misbehaving. Let alone normal use like--shock--opening and closing the Bible to read it. This might be forgiven--I'm not yet that concerned about wrinkled pages to stop reading the Bible--if the ghosting wasn't also an issue. 

As for the translation, this is my second time to read the NRSV and my first time to read the Anglicized and/or Anglicized Catholic edition. Offhand, I didn't personally have any "aha" yes this is where they changed it from the traditional NRSV moments. I'm just not familiar with the NRSV to be able to spot differences. The NRSV is not among my 'top tier' favorite-favorite translations. I bought this one because of the "extra large" font. I thought it might give me a better chance at appreciating this translation than the tiny-size font editions I had. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2. Wycliffe's Bible with Modern Spelling

Wycliffe's Bible with Modern Spelling. John Wycliffe and John Purvey. 1395. 1000 pages estimate only. [Source: YouVersion]

First sentence: In the beginning God made of nought heaven and earth. Forsooth the earth was idle and void, and darknesses were on the face of depth; and the Spirit of the Lord was borne on the waters [or the Spirit of God was borne upon the waters]. And God said, Light be made, and the light was made. And God saw the light, that it was good, and he parted the light from darknesses; and he called the light, day, and the darknesses, night. And the eventide and the morrowtide was made, one day.

I read a modern spelling version of Wycliffe's New Testament several years ago. The person doing the updating/modernizing was different. I loved, loved, loved this little book. 

I read this "modern spelling" Wycliffe Bible (both testaments) on YouVersion. I could not find further information on WHO did the updating/modernizing. Just the dates of the modernizing--2017 for the whole Bible, earlier years for the Old Testament and New Testament. 

I started this translation in November 2021. I read Genesis through Psalm 89 in 2021. I was using the Bible in 90 Days plan. I ended up getting ahead of myself and finishing the plan early. 

The translation was from the Latin Vulgate. The initial translation was done in the fourteenth century. It has been "updated" into "modern" spelling starting around 2001-2017. 

Psalm 23

1 The psalm of David. The Lord governeth me, and nothing shall fail to me;

2 in the place of pasture there he hath set me. He nourished me on the water of refreshing;

3 he converted my soul. He led me forth on the paths of rightfulness [or rightwiseness]; for his name.

4 For why though I shall go in the midst of shadow of death; I shall not dread evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff; those have comforted me.

5 Thou hast made ready a board in my sight; against them that trouble me. Thou hast made fat mine head with oil; and my cup, that filleth greatly, is full clear.

6 And thy mercy shall follow me; in all the days of my life. And that I dwell in the house of the Lord; into the length of days.

Isaiah 9:6

6 Forsooth a little child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and prince-hood is made [up]on his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, A counsellor, God, Strong, Father of the world to coming, A prince of peace, [or Marvellous, Counsellor, God, Strong, Father of the world to come, Prince of peace].

I do think that 99.9% of people will need a modernized version if they want to benefit from this translation. 

Here are the first five verses of Genesis in the original spelling:

In the bigynnyng God made of nouyt heuene and erthe. Forsothe the erthe was idel and voide, and derknessis weren on the face of depthe; and the Spiryt of the Lord was borun on the watris. And God seide, Liyt be maad, and liyt was maad. And God seiy the liyt, that it was good, and he departide the liyt fro derknessis; and he clepide the liyt, dai, and the derknessis, nyyt. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, o daie.

Even so, I found that it was tricky to read. Not every verse, every chapter. But there were some true puzzlers that even modern updates couldn't "save." In other words, I didn't find it as edifying as I was hoping. I wanted to find it an engaging read. Something "new" (or new to me) and unique and special. Sometimes--and I'm being 100% honest--I found myself skimming instead of taking the time to unwind the text fully. (Imagine the text being barbed wire.) Again, not every verse of every chapter of every verse. But enough that I felt a disconnect. This is NOT how I read the King James Version or even the King James Version in the 1611 spelling. How does one measure how much one actually reads when there is skimming involved???

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

9. NASB Single Column Reference

NASB Single Column Reference, Wide Margin, 1995 Text. February 2020. Zondervan. 1920 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I was super-super-super-super excited to read this one! It arrived in the mail just a mere week before the world turned topsy-turvy in 2020. Here are the features that excited me and screamed out BUY ME, BUY ME, BUY ME.

• Line-matched Bible text minimizes see-through
• Verse-by-verse format
• Black letter edition
• Full-color presentation page
• Eight pages of full-color maps
• Exquisite, durable cover
• Premium European Bible paper, 36 gsm
• Two satin ribbon markers
• Exclusive Zondervan NASB Comfort Print typeface
• 10.5-point print size

On paper it looked like it would be THE ONE. I wasn't able to track down a copy in a physical store to see it before I bought it. But I took a leap of faith and ordered it online. 

I was not disappointed. This one has it all--or at least almost all. I love, love, love, love the 1995 NASB. I love, love, love single column bibles. I love, love, love, love black letter editions. I love, love, love, love, LOVE the new COMFORT PRINT type. I LOVE that there isn't ghosting or bleed through. I love the ribbons. (Though three or four ribbons would have been even better.)

In addition, it wasn't too heavy. It was slightly heavy. But I'd say it was pleasantly heavy. 

The way it lays flat is a dream. 

If I could combine everything I love about this one with everything I loved about the ESV Creeds Bible, then I would definitely have my ONE. If this one had an appendix of the creeds, it would be perfectly perfectly perfect in every way. 

I read the first three or four books in February--the week I got it. Then I put it on a shelf--back when I thought, hoped, that Covid would be a thing that passed relatively quickly--like by the summer. But this October I decided I might as well READ IT NOW. I read the rest of the Bible in October. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

7. The One Year Chronological Bible (NLT)

The One Year Chronological Bible. (NLT) Tyndale. 2007. 1728 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This is the second chronological Bible I've read in 2020. (Earlier in the year I read and reviewed the CSB Day by Day Bible.) I picked up this paperback Bible at a friends of the library sale in 2019 for $1. It was definitely worth a $1. I'd even say it was worth $3 or $4. 

It is the New Living Translation--the New New Living Translation, aka the updated New Living Translation. Readings are arranged into daily-sized portions and arranged chronologically. 

The New Living Translation is not my favorite or best. It is way, way, way better than say The Message. But it isn't really a Bible I would seek out and read for my main Bible, my daily Bible. I like translations that are a bit more formal. (Does that make sense?) That being said, it is refreshing to read the New Testament letters and not have to spend every second decoding meaning. 

I have about decided that maybe chronologically arranged Bibles aren't quite my thing. I don't mind reading chronologically if it can be done in whole book chunks. Or perhaps large-ish sections of text. But the choppity-chop-chop-chopping of books I found tedious. I also found it frustrating that it would start/stop books in an irritating fashion. 

I started this one on July 21, 2020 and finished on September 15, 2020. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Review: KJV Readers Bible

KJV Reader's Bible. 2016. Holman Bible Publishers. 1840 pages. [Source: Gift]

It took me six weeks to read this one. I enjoyed the reading experience for the most part. Here's what you should know about this one.

It is in the King James translation. For better or worse. Me, well, I love, love, love, CRAZY love Psalms and the gospels in the KJV. Verily, verily, I do. I don't love reading other books quite so much in the translation. Some passages sing--a phrase my mother uses all the time to describe translations that have beauty and depth and wonder. But I struggle with understanding it at times. This leads to either: a) disengaging and skimming or b) reading slowly and getting frustrated when I don't feel "full."

It is a READERS version of the Bible. This is a new trend in Bible publishing. It removes chapters and verses. This is great if you want to read the Bible at home and immerse yourself into it one book at a time. I do love to do that--especially with shorter books. But it would be difficult to use this one at church and follow along....in my opinion.

It is single column. It is also black letter.

The font is a nice size for the eyes. The pages are thin but not horribly awful. The layout seems nice enough. No complaints from me.

But this one breaks words into syllables. It is an-noy-ing. It works against the philosophy of immersing yourself into the reading experience. Show me another book in the world--fiction or nonfiction--that feels the need to do this for the readers' benefit?!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible