Vivid English Translation

Another New Testament translation for you today: This is the Vivid English Translation. Thanks to BB for this news. From the website:

The Nature of This Translation: This Vivid English Translation (VET) of the New Testament is a faithful, accurate rendering of the original Greek text that is simple, clear, easy to understand, and pleasant to read and listen to. As no other translation does, the VET brings out the vividness of the original Greek text, so its English readers and Bible students are able to see for themselves and appreciate the vividness of the various original Greek writers and their intended meanings. Special attention was paid to translating all the different kinds of Greek verb tenses according to their respective uses to render their vividness in the VET’s text. Unlike the VET, popular English translations smooth out the verb tenses into a dead level translation that too often misses the vividness that the Greek verb tenses add to the text, thereby obscuring the original writer’s meaning. As often as possible the VET also translated the emphasis of the original Greek wording. The Greek writers commonly chose their word order according to the stress in their mind at the time. The VET chose to bring out that emphasis. The VET has essentially a literal word-for-word correspondence with the original Greek text to bring the reader and Bible student as close as possible to that original Greek text. When a word-for-word translation of a verse would have resulted in a rendering that would have been difficult for the reader to understand, the verse was translated instead sense-for-sense in a readily understandable idiomatic English. Even children can read the VET with great profit and blessing.

James Quiggle Translation

I just heard about this translation of the New Testament (thank you, BB!). This is the James Quiggle Translation of the New Testament. From Amazon's description:

The James Quiggle Translation of the New Testament (JQTNT) is the culmination of ten years of translation and exegesis of the New Testament books. My purpose was to produce a translation that replicated, as closely as possible, what I believe the original readers would have read in the autographs. The 1904 Nestle text was the primary text, supplemented by later editions, trusted lexicons, textual critics, and grammarians, and compared against eight older to modern translations dating from 1535 to 2005. The result is a translation that reflects the vocabulary and grammar of the New Testament text, and accurately communicates God’s word to the believer.

The Bible in Pirate Speak

I just heard about this one: The Bible in Pirate Speak. According to the website:

The Pirate Bible is a full translation of the Bible (including Old and New Testaments). It was translated using a complex algorithm and artificial intelligence to create a realistic yet content accurate translation of the Holy Book. We hope it inspires you to engage with the Bible in new and meaningful ways.

A sample:

Matthew 6:3 (Pirate Bible) But when ye scuttle booty, let not yer port hand know what yer starboard hand be doin'!

Y'all Version

This has been mentioned in the past, but I believe it has a new website now. It provides options for the second person plural in the Bible. Choose "Y'all," "Youse Guys," "You Lot" or others. Turn your favorite translation into a new version! Visit Y'all Version to try it out.

The Second Testament

This is a new translation of the New Testament by Scot McKnight. I mentioned this back in 2018 when the project was first announced. It is now due to be released by Intervarsity Press in June. For samples of the translation and a description visit IVP here. A sample from their page:

God blesses the beggars in spirit because theirs is Heavens’ Empire. God blesses the grievers because they will be consoled. God blesses the meek because they will inherit the land. God blesses the ones hungering and thirsting for the rightness because they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:3-6)

American Standard Version Byzantine Text

This version is an adaptation of the American Standard Version. It is called the American Standard Version Byzantine Text. It is available on the ebible website and on Amazon. The description on Amazon reads:

The American Standard Version, Byzantine Text with Apocrypha is an adaptation of the American Standard Version to the Byzantine Text of the New Testament and includes all of the Apocryphal books, which have been adapted from the English Revised Version, Brenton's Septuagint, and G. Buchanan Gray and adjusted to match the style of the American Standard Version. Minor adjustments have been made to spelling, formatting, and punctuation. All alternate Byzantine readings are documented in footnotes.

Thanks to JH for this find.

The Faith Translation

Thanks to a great friend, we have another new translation: The Faith Translation by by John A. Fazio. It is available on Amazon: Samples are being posted on the Facebook page. Thanks to B.B. for his continued research and love for God's Word!

The King Jesus Translation

I just heard about this one this morning (thank you, BB). It is the King Jesus Translation by G. Steve Kinnard. The ad states:

Why do I call this translation the King Jesus Translation? The primary theme of the ministry of Jesus was “the Kingdom.” The gospels tell the story of King Jesus entering the world to establish, teach, grow, explain, and bring people into—his Kingdom. The word Christ (Christos in the Greek) means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.” Another way of saying that is—King. Jesus is King. King Jesus. Why another translation of the New Testament? There certainly are plenty of great translations available in English. I offer this translation because I’ve always enjoyed reading different translations of the Bible. I find that when I read a new and unfamiliar translation, words and ideas jump off the page and grab my attention. This is why I read from different translations. I have dozens in my library. Use the King Jesus Translation as a secondary Bible. Use it to get a little different flavor of how the Bible can be translated. I hope you enjoy this translation. I don’t expect it to gain wide use, but if it helps one apprentice of King Jesus draw closer to him and his Kingdom through reading it, then I’m grateful and happy. —G. Steve Kinnard

Simple English Version

 This has apparently been out a while, but I just heard of it today.  This is the "Bible: Easy to Read - Simple English Version." It is available on Amazon and other online retailers.

New Scripture Portions

 Today I've got a couple Scripture portions.  Thank you to J.H. for sending these to me!

1.  The New Book of Genesis  "This is a new, modern English translation of the Book of Genesis, from the original Hebrew together with oral teachings that were passed down for thousands of years. The result is a translation that reveals a clearer picture of the love and devotion of the early Fathers and the kindness of the Supreme Being they were devoted to."

2.  The Lost Gospels of Jesus  "The Lost Gospels of Jesus is a modern English translation of the oldest known lost Gospel manuscripts discovered buried in the Middle East. This includes the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Didache, the Secret Gospel of James, the Gospel of the Ebionites and many others."

Both of these are anonymous.

Under The Southern Cross

Here is a New Testament I just read about this morning.  It is Under the Southern Cross:  The New Testament in Australian English by Richard K. Moore.   It is available from Ark House.  From the Ark House website:

In recent decades the distinctiveness of the English spoken in Australia has been recognized by the publication of dictionaries and grammars of Australian English. Given the widely acknowledged role played by Christianity in the colonizing of Australia by the British, and in the subsequent development of the nation, it is appropriate that the New Testament writings should also be available in Australian English.

Under the Southern Cross is the first published translation of the complete New Testament from the Greek language in which it was composed into the everyday English used in Australia.

The translator, who lectured in New Testament at tertiary level for three decades, is a passionate advocate of translations which convey as accurately as possible the meaning and message of the original authors of the twenty-seven writings making up the New Testament in contemporary and intelligible language.

The basis for the translation is the most recent edition of the scholarly Greek text published by the German Bible Society and distributed throughout the world by the United Bible Societies.

About the author

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Richard K. Moore (BA, MA, DipEd, BD, PhD) lectured in Biblical Studies in Queensland, Australia (1974–1978) before becoming Head of the New Testament Department at the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia (1979–2002), now Vose Seminary, and a Lecturer at Murdoch University (1986–2002). His areas of specialization include the doctrine of justification (in Paul, in its historical development, and in English translations), the Synoptic Question, the historical geography of Acts, and the use of the Old Testament by the authors of the New Testament. Richard and Kathleen Mack married in 1965; they have two sons and a daughter, five grandsons and one granddaughter. In retirement Richard continues as a Research Associate at Vose Seminary, publishing in the field of New Testament. 

The Gospels: A Precise Translation

 Just got notified of this translation:  The Gospels: A Precise Translation.  Thanks, BB!