Open English Translation

I recently received an update from New Zealand about the Open English Translation:

After some 10,000 hours of work (drafting, plus any necessary computer support for the websites), the Open English Translation of the Bible (OET) is now fully drafted. It still contains some typos, probably some inaccuracies, and certainly a number of inconsistencies, but it's quite usable from https://Freely-Given.org/OBD/OET/. I was also able to purchase https://OET.Bible, so the design documents and other essays are there.

Meanwhile work progresses to Phase 3, which includes bringing earlier drafts up to the current formatting standard, as well as working on consistency of names and many Biblical terms, plus accuracy checking. We'd love to have more eyes on the draft text, and everything's done transparently in the open at https://GitHub.com/Freely-Given-org/OpenEnglishTranslation--OET. (There's also some specific opportunities mentioned there under Discussions as well as here.)

Sorry for the long break!

Until recently, I was working two jobs. It affected my health and certainly kept me away from any hobbies. I am back to rebinding Bibles full time now.

Here is a very unusual find. This is a fictional Bible version created by C. M. Kornbluth in his short story "Theory of Rocketry." I believe this short passage is all there is.

He called it the Modern Revised Old Testament. The character in the story described it as "the flat, crystal-clear, crystal-blank M.R.O.T."

This is from Psalm 32:1-4:

You're blessed, if you're excused for your wrongdoing and your sin is forgiven. You're blessed if God knows that you're not evil and sly any more. I, King David, used to hide my sins from God while I grew old and blustered proudly all day. But all day and all night too your hand was heavy on me, God ...

Version Update Catch Up

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! Here are a bunch of new versions sent to me recently:

The Holy Bible (MAGAV) Make America Great Again Version

A List of "Proparchian Bible Translations" or Arian Bible Translations

Simplified King James Version online flipbook.

THE ALL-ISRAEL BIBLE: HaBrit Chadasha The New Covenant / Testament

Liberation and Inclusion Translation

This is the Liberation and Inclusion Translation. From the website:

The Bible is a library of sacred literature from oppressed & marginalized communities. So why do we translate it to justify more trauma, authoritarianism, and exclusion?

Portions of the New Testament are available to read online, such as Mark 1:4:

It came to be that John the Submerser was in the Wilderness and announcing a submersion of transformation of the mind for dismissal of deviations.

Biker Version Bible

Today's final new version: The Biker Version Bible. The website introduces this work:

Don't waste your time with those counterfeit "Biker Bibles" that slap motorcycles on the cover & hide some old traditional text inside. This is the REAL DEAL, the ORIGINAL & FIRST EVER BIKER VERSION BIBLE that doesn't pull punches or soften the message. We've stripped the ancient words down to the frame and rebuilt them with even more passion than you put into your own machine. The Biker Version Bible (BVB) rolls out in straight-up biker style, speaking the language of the road and laying down God's truth as raw as the asphalt beneath your wheels.

Samples are availabe of James and Proverbs. James 1:1 -

Yo, I’m James, a road warrior for the King—serving Jesus Christ, the true leader of the pack. To all my brothers and sisters riding the highways of life, scattered across the world—keep the throttle steady, and listen up!

The Apostles Teaching: A Chronological New Covenant

Another New Testament version: The Apostles Teaching: A Chronological New Covenant

The description from the Amazon page:

The Apostles Teaching: A Chronological New Covenant is a modernized original translation of the Textus Receptus Greek with composite authority given to the earliest recorded church witnesses from the 2nd and third century, as well as from documented internal evidence to compose what can reasonably believed to be, an unfolding account of the founding doctrines of the New Covenant, beginning with preaching of Peter at Jerusalem, and ending with that of John at Ephesus.

This work is meant to give a modern Christian reader insight into what a first century believer might have received as the earliest written apostolic account of the life, ministry, and teaching of Jesus Christ, the Acts of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the unfolding testimony of the New Covenant, corresponding with the historical events that most shaped the early Church in its first decades.

The New Charismatic Bible: The New Testament

Another new version today: The New Charismatic Bible: The New Testament The description from the Amazon page:

The New Charismatic New Testament is a literal translation of the Christian New Testament, but it is a translation informed by Charismatic understanding. Many Bible translators, though extremely competent, simply do not have the spiritual and charismatic experiences necessary to correctly and literally translate many words and expressions which are found in the New Testament. This translation attempts to bridge that gap, so that those who have come from a Spirit-filled perspective may see the many ways that their understanding and their experiences of faith are validated in the New Testament Scriptures.

Restoring the Voice of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Here is a new version of the Gospels: Restoring the Voice of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The description from the Amazon page:

Experience the Gospels in a way that is both accessible to everyday readers and faithful to the original Koine Greek. This unfiltered, literal English translation and transcription of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John preserves the grammatical precision, respectful tone, and polite discourse characteristic of the first century — elements often altered or lost in modern translations. Whether you are a curious reader, a devout Christian seeking a deeper connection, or a scholar or pastor longing for an unfiltered encounter with Scripture, this translation offers clarity, accuracy, and a fresh perspective. Key Features:

• A literal, word-for-word rendering that minimizes interpretive alteration
• Preservation of third-person imperatives, subjunctive, and optative moods to retain original tone and intent
• Emphasis on the respectful, polite discourse of the time, conveying not just what Jesus said, but how He said it
• Based on the Nestle-Aland 28th Edition, with Majority Text variants thoughtfully included

Cochin Hebrew Matthew

Today's version is the English translation of the Cochin Hebrew Matthew. Currently the first nine chapters are available for download at Project Truth Ministries.

Brain Training Bible

B.B. sent me this unusual adaptation of the King James New Testament. It is the Brain Training Bible - King James Version. It is adapted by scrambling the words. For example: “For God so levod the wrlod, taht he gvae his olny bron Son, taht wehveor bleveies in him shloud not perish, but hvae enetarl lfie” (John 3:16).

Many New Versions!

I've received so many (and need to catch up so much) that I will simply list these: King Nimrod's New Testament
The New Testament: Uncorrupted English
King James Update
The Bible: Simplified English Edition
Yahweh God's Word
Unnamed Translation and Paraphrase
Maria's Version: New Testament and Psalms
The Texan Holy Bible
Targum Americana: The Hebrew Bible as Understood by the Sages
Epoch Bible: Restored Names Version
The Universal Bible: Second Edition
The One God, the Father, One Man Messiah Translation: New Testament, also here
Holy Bible - Bible in Modern English
Garth's Hyper-literal Translation (GHT)
The New Testament in Truth: Reconstruction of the Original Faith
The Chiastic Word New Testament with Commentary: (Matthew only), also here

A few more Bible Versions

Though I don't have much time for searching out new versions lately, there many Bible Hunters that do! A.H. sent these versions:

I saw a mention of the "Colloquial Speech Version" published by the National Adult School Union, and went hunting as it sounded like something that might pair well with the TCNT. They published a series "Books of the Old Testament in Colloquial Speech". Looking at it a century later I think "colloquial speech" really just meant "modern language". It sounds like it may have never been completed, although there is confusion as to how much was - the Society of Old Testament Studies says here that it produced this series and there were only 6 volumes, rather than the ten listed at archive.org. It looks like the earlier volumes are all bundled together at https://archive.org/details/booksofoldtestam00mart/mode/1up, but I think even though ten volumes are listed the later ones are not there (maybe they were scanned in a second document which is just harder to find...) Some of the missing volumes are listed by SOTS, so they must exist.

THE COMPLETE ETHIOPIAN BIBLE 88 BOOKS IN ENGLISH: The Orthodox Study Bible Including All The missing Apocrypha In Large Print The Complete Ethiopian Bible in English: 110 Scriptures of the Orthodox Study Bible with Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Books of Enoch, Wisdom, Jubilees, and Other Missing Scriptures in Easy to Read Font The Timeless King James Update (TKJU) New Testament More information here. The New Testament, Second Edition: A 21st Century Translation The Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition (RFP) B.B. sent this one: Allen’s Literal Translation of The New Testament J. H. sent this: (I am not sure if this is related to previous versions that used "Y'all" to show the plural.) https://yallversion.com/ Finall, here's one I ran across: 21st Century New Testament: The Manual for God's Team

Several New Versions

First up are some I found by accident when looking for something else. The One Unity Resource Bible. It is the work of Thomas Robinson. The Unlocked Literal Bible. The Anindilyakwa English Bible Next are two sent to me by BB (thank you!). The Bible: A Chronological Journey from Genesis to Revelation (English Edition) The Fusion Bible: God's Holy Word (Amazon), sample text here.

THE BIBLE YOU DON'T KNOW (corrected copy)

Today's new version is THE BIBLE YOU DON'T KNOW (corrected copy) by Teresa Yap-Rendon. The Amazon page has samples for reading online. From the Amazon page:

To reiterate, the Bible, in its entirety, is perfect inasmuch as the Real Author of it is perfect. And because the original writers of the Scriptures were directly inspired by God Himself, by all means there are no mistakes in any of the original manuscripts. It's the scribes and the copyists that are not inspired by God who made all the errors and inconsistencies in interpreting and copying them, knowingly or unknowingly. On that note, I did not add to nor subtract from God's word, I just made the necessary corrections in all objectivity.

Thank you to BB again for this version!

ETI Version

Today's version is the ETI Version (End Times Issue Version). This is the work of Dr. James Robertson. Scroll way down the page to find the Bible version. Thank you, BB!

AI Bible Versions

Today's versions will open up an interesting area of study/debate. (Thanks to BB for these two). These are AI generated Bible versions. 1) New Testament, New Artificial Intelligence Version (NAIV) From the Amazon page:

- AI-Generated Translation: Experience the New Testament translated entirely by artificial intelligence, providing a fresh and distinct perspective on the scriptures. - Not for Serious Study: While the NAIV offers a novel approach, it is not intended for rigorous theological or academic analysis. It complements traditional translations rather than replacing them. - Enhanced Accessibility: The efficiency of AI allows for rapid and scalable production, making the New Testament more accessible to a wider audience. - Comparative Tool: Use the NAIV alongside traditional translations to gain deeper insights into the complexities and nuances of biblical interpretation.

2) GPT.Bible: The AI Critical New Testament (AICNT) From their page:

The AI Critical New Testament (AICNT) sets a new standard in the unbiased translation of Scripture. God has revealed himself through the Bible—The best-selling book of all time. However, mainstream English versions often reflect the inherent biases of translators and editors. Such biases are not merely textual; they are amplified through formatting choices and suggestive section headings, leading readers down predetermined interpretive paths. The opacity in these translations can sometimes render them closer to a commentary on the meaning of the text, instead of a neutral rendering of what the ancient text says. Faced with the challenge of human bias in translating holy Scripture, the question arises: where can one find an impartial rendition? Recent technological advancements offer an answer in the form of Artificial Intelligence. Specifically, OpenAI’s GPT-4 Large Language Model (LLM) provides a highly precise and consistent tool for translating Biblical Greek when programmed with appropriate guidelines. The AICNT thus serves as a reliable resource for those seeking a transparent presentation of what the New Testament manuscripts genuinely convey, rather than an interpretation shaped by human beliefs.

New Versions, New Links

Today I have several new items for you to peruse. First up is a notice (sent by BB): The Gospel of John translated Nathan Wilson (YouTube), second video. Next, is a huge list of versions posted on the excellent Better Bibles Blog. Just a few from that wonderful list: Little Bird Bible, Reorganized Concise Paraphrased Bible, New Heart English Bible, Majority Standard Bible, Palmer Translation, Aionian Bible, Casual English Bible, Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible, unfoldingWord Simplified Text and many more!

HolyBible.site

Today's notice comes with a lot of translations in one place. I just received an email from one of the team at holybible.site. This excellent resource has more than a dozen English language Bible translations. The age range runs from Geneva to Literal Standard Version. They have everything from literal to the Easy to Read version.

But this is not just a site for English speaking readers. This is an international site. It offers translations in French, Spanish, Polish, and more!

When you visit their site, please take time to offer feedback. They state on their site:

May our site help you know the Lord, love Him, and fulfill his great commission.

The idea of the HolyBible Site project is to spread the word of God among all Internet users. We are moving in two directions, making the most convenient design for reading the Bible and attracting/inspiring new people to read the Bible.

The New Testament - Translation in the Oldest Tradition: The Traditional Text

Today's new translation was provided by a wonderful Bible Hunter who has sent me many notices. That you, BB! This is The New Testament - Translation in the Oldest Tradition: The Traditional Text. A preview is available on Amazon. This translation is the work of Dr. Mark Spitsbergen. His website is www.abidingplace.org. On his translation page, https://abidingplace.org/bible-translation, his earlier translation work, OT translations and commentary are available in PDF format. From the Amazon description:

We most certainly believe that the New Testament is the exact words of God delivered to us by God through His servants the apostles. The Word of God carries the highest importance and value for each one of us, as it is by the Word that we will be judged. Certainly, the Almighty God Who gave His Word to us has also watched over it to preserve its accuracy. The Greek and Aramaic New Testament have also been watched over and maintained by scribes who have valued it as the sacred and exact Word of God since the Apostle John presented it to the church. Those who have worked to prepare the “Translation in the Oldest Tradition” have relied on those text types and translations that have been the most dominant in the church of Jesus Christ over the past 2,000 years. Most modern translations of the Bible rely heavily on a minority text type called the Alexandrian Text Type. This is one of the main differences of this translation: we completely ignore the Alexandrian Text Type and instead rely on all of those text types and translations into the English Language that were derived from the Byzantine Text Type, the Textus Receptus, and the Peshitta. The Byzantine and Peshitta texts are unique in that both have competing claims to the Priority Theory in which their respective text types best replicate the autograph (original). The Alexandrian Text Type however, was not given much value by the church until 1859. Most modern-day translations not only give a priority to the Alexandrian Text Type, but also tend toward a thought-to-thought translation. We contend that the Greek New Testament can be accurately translated in an easy-to-understand word-for-word translation. We believe it is essential to know exactly what God has said and required of us. It is based on this certainty that we have worked since 2003 to provide this translation of the New Testament. In addition to all of the many resources made available to us, we also relied on every resource provided by Logos software.

Truth Scriptures Project

Today's notice is about the Truth Scriptures Project. Portions of the Scriptures are available as free samples. From the website:

Welcome to a groundbreaking endeavor—the “Truth Scripture Project.” This initiative is a passionate response to the growing need for clarity, transparency, and fidelity to the original essence of the Scriptures, utilizing the earliest textual sources available. Our mission is to dive deep into the ancient texts and reveal the unadulterated truth, transcending the limitations and alterations that have emerged over centuries of translations and interpretations. Practically every current English translation of Scriptures (Bible) are corrupted, and we aim to fix this with the Truth Scriptures.

Thank you, BB, for notice about this one!