The Field Guide to the Bible Reading PlanSample

What Version Should I Read?

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Since most people can’t read these languages, the Bible has had to be translated.

There are different ways to translate the same thing. There’s a word-for-word style, which is very precise, but sometimes harder to understand. You can also have thought-for-thought translations, which translate the meaning behind larger chunks of scripture in a way that makes the most sense and are usually easier to read.

King James Version is a Word-for Word version whereas The Message is a Thought-for-Thought version. All are good.

Here are 5 tips for choosing a translation:

1. Keep in mind that there's not a 'best translation'.
2. Make sure the translation is easy to read for you.
3. Choose one translation as your main Bible version.
4. For Bible study, compare multiple translations.
5. If you're not sure, ask your pastor or ministry leader.

So which one should I read?

It mainly depends on why you’re reading it. If you want to study the Bible, a word-for-word style translation is probably better. If you want to get a sense of the overall meaning, then try a thought-for-thought translation. It’s ok to use more than one style.

Action:

Check out some different versions of Psalm 23. Try the King James, NIV, NLT and the Message.

Pick one that you feel comfortable with and, as Ezekiel and Jeremiah did, ‘eat it’ and enjoy the taste.