What Bible Versions Do You Use Most?

[Moses]

Wondering what Bible translation (version) do you use mostly and why?

I use the New American Standard Bible (NASB) mostly for reading and studying due to it being the closest translated from the Greek and Hebrew.

For cross-referencing I will use the NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV, and NCV.

If you use The Message, please explain why you use this version.

[Rey Reynoso]

NASB for the literalism, main study and reading.
NIV for the dynamism
HCSB for the better English (pure legibility)
NET for the notes
NKJV/KJV when I'm preparing messages to see what the audience is reading so I can make proper thought connections.
Message for pure enjoyment of hearing it in new words.
Spanish Reina Valera when I'm translating

[Eric A. Stephens]

We just had this discussion in a Bibliology/Interpretation class I'm teaching at my church. I tend to favor the ESV and NASB for personal reading and study with ESV generally winning out. I feel the ESV is just a tad smoother to read than the NASB while retaining a high degree of formal equivalence. I use the NIV/CEV for devotions with the kids. I don't think I even own any KJV Bibles anymore :-)

[Phyllis B Zaepfel]

I read the NIV but when I am digging deep I use the NET Bible.

[Leslie Jebaraj]

NLT for devotions.
NASB for study.
NET for digging deeper.

[Laura Springer]

ESV for most study, with NASB and NRSV for regular comparison. I'll look at NLT for devotional reading (and sometimes for comparison). I use NET for the notes. If I'm studying the New Testament, I'll usually do my own translation (unfortunately most of my Hebrew has leaked out of my brain). I usually take a look at YLT as well.

When I use the Message, it is more like a verse-by-verse commentary.

[J. Matthew Barnes]

When teaching in the church I use the NIV, since that is what most of the people to whom I teach read.

Personally, I regularly read and study the NIV, NRSV, NASB, NKJV, the Septuagint, the Vulgate, various German and French translation, and the Bible in the original languages.

[Anselm]

Recently started using the NET from bible.org.

Really like it because it explains why it translates something the way it does. It also has flexible copyright laws and an open source mentality. Maps are pretty awesome too.

In fact it is so useful we actually give them away to new students of The Theology Program we teach at our congregation.

[David Arnold Carlson]

NET Bible for on my computer

Also NET Bible on ESword

NET Bible (dead tree version) - I have both the full note and no note versions

NEXT Bible when I have an internet connection

I think the future of bibles is the NEXT Bible, just on roids - i.e. with video and other things.

Yes, I have drunk the koolaid. I own virtually every other translation, but use virtually none of them anymore

[Fred]

ESV, because Piper recommends it (just kidding).

[Jacob Klinstein]

I find the NASB best for study, but often read the NIV.

I should try the ESV & NET versions some day.

[Carl Gobelman]

Oh alright...I wasn't going to reply, but like a moth to a flame...

My first and true love is the NIV. I grew up with it and it was the first Bible I bought with my own money. I like the concept of dynamic equivalence when attempting to get the feel and nuance of a passage, especially an OT passage. I am currently reading the NIV Study Bible in my study/devotion time.

My new favorite is the ESV for its accuracy and readability. It retains the elegance of the KJV without the "thees" and "thous", and it is true to the form of the original.

Never quite got into the KJV/NKJV, and after doing some study, found out they use a different NT textual base.

The NASB, while achieving high kudos for literal excellence, gets low grades for literary excellence. It is too formal. Thoughts and words don't flow naturally for me.

I enjoy the NLT from time to time for it's higher degree of dynamic equivalence, but don't use it regularly as a serious study translation for the very same reason.

Don't usually use the Message.

I don't know too much about the HCSB or the NET, though with all the praise for these translations on this board, I might have to check them out. For my studies at Moody, we're required to purchase Logos Bible software Scholar's Edition, so I believe I have all of these translations at the tips of my fingers.

CFG.

[Rey Reynoso]

I'd say Logos Scholar's or similar is a useful tool for anybody who is preaching the Word. Dead up. There, I got ghetto with this too.