The Readable Bible (TRB) Version

 My collection of Bible versions is growing. Since I have been doing serious Bible study for the past couple of years, I rely most heavily on the KJV and NASB. I have been using the ESV just for reading for the pleasure of it. I also have physical copies of the Amplified version (which I often use), and the ERV which I'll read to my young relatives or just for my own clarity.

(Side note: I learned something new recently during a Bible study of the Book of Isaiah, Chuck Missler was comparing passages in the KJV to the ISV. He explained that the ISV relies heavily on the Dead Sea Scrolls and that the DSS for Isaiah had the complete work. Interesting.)

I almost always use eSword (which I highly recommend!) in addition to hard copies of the KJV, NASB, ESV, and Amplified versions so I have access to digital copies of several versions (plus other study resources) and I use many of them during Bible study. However, as I said, I do enjoy reading the Bible just for the pleasure of it so I like having physical copies of "easier to read" versions.

Amazon's packaging
was a bit haphazard!

I don't know how I came to learn of the Readable Bible (TRB) but when I saw samples online, I wanted a hard copy for myself. I ordered mine from Amazon (though it's cheaper at ChristianBook.com right now). By the way, I do love ChristianBook and order from there often. I just get a bit impatient with the sometimes backorders and I wanted to get this Bible as soon as possible!

Understand that I know that there are sometimes very important differences between translations. I don't like "loose" translations and won't even read for pleasure anything like "The Message" or "The Passion" (even before it was noted by others to be too loose). After all, the Bible is God's Word, not man's.

This is why I rely on the KJV and other "word-for-word" translations for serious study. I was still trying to decide where the TRB version falls on the chart of translations before I remembered the chart I once posted on this blog. Duh! After seeing it, I'm happy to say that it falls in line with the other word-for-word versions. 

There it is, the TRB

This is what publishers of the TRB have to say:

Lots of see-through issues

The Readable Bible is a literal translation in the sense that each original language word is expressed in English. However, sometimes a literal translation is unlikely to communicate the writer’s thought to a modern audience. For instance, people unfamiliar with ancient culture probably do not understand that “sons of the bridechamber” in Matthew 9:15 refers to groomsmen. So, where the literal translation might confuse or mislead today’s reader, a thought-for-thought translation is presented and the literal translation is footnoted, or vice versa (unless the term is listed in “Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted”). When an action verb is immediately followed by another action verb (e.g., “got up and went”), oftentimes only the second verb is expressed in the English text.

Specific copyright & use rules

For my general reading purposes, I have to say that it's easier for my modern American brain to absorb the basics. Just as with the ESV - which I enjoy reading before bedtime - I find the TRB relaxing to read. All of the charts and "helps" within the Bible chapters are just as easy on the brain as can be. Some verses are broken down really well (without changing the meanings). For instance, in Genesis, the creation days are clearly labeled as "Day 1:" and so on. In Isaiah 14, the 5 satanic "I will" statements are laid out in separate lines. In Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments are clearly numbered. (To be honest, I love this because I've always had to manually highlight or mark these kinds of things in Bibles.)

Lots of charts

 As I said, this is a great "reader" for seasoned believers or a "starter" for a new Bible reader or undecided person.

I do think it's nice to have a Bible on hand for pleasure reading in place of a novel or magazines when I am sitting around waiting for an appointment or during long car rides. Any time that I can find to spend with God's Word, is time well spent. Reading the Bible for pleasure helps to reinforce lessons from my study and, sometimes, it leads me to pursue new avenues of study.

While I love a lot about this TRB, there are some design features that could be improved. As with most Bibles, the pages are thin. In this paperback, there are issues of see-through and, in the wrong light, that can make it hard to read. Also, individual book names are not printed at the tops of all pages. This is not a big problem for someone familiar with the orders of the books but could be for a new Bible reader. I hate tabbing paperback Bibles because it never looks neat enough but, if I gift one of these to a newbie, I will have to do just that.

For the price (around $37 with tax), Amazon could have done a better job with the packaging. Mine was just tossed loosely inside a plastic mailer and so it arrived with the front cover bent. (Yes, I'm being nitpicky!)

The TRB is a very nice resource. It's easier on the brain than even the ESV is. It's really interesting to compare passages between the two. I often use the ESV and TRB alongside the study Bible versions. I find the parallels helpful to my getting further into a passage.

I can recommend the TRB to anyone who enjoys just reading the Bible. Since I got my copy, I have been reading through a little at a time each evening starting with Genesis and I really look forward to it every day. I do have to mention that due to its size, it is a bit unwieldy! It doesn't fit into any of my purses.

I hope this post was useful. If it's a little scrambled, I apologize. My brain has been tired the past few days and I'm having trouble keeping my thoughts clear and straight. Keep me in your prayers.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: By the way, before I received the TRB and saw the copyright page, I was stupidly referring to the version as the RB.