What's your favorite Bible translation, and why?
Yesterday was Pentecost and the church celebrated God's Holy Spirit coming upon the first followers of Jesus. A Rosetta Stone experience! They were able to speak to visitors to Jerusalem in the native language of those visitors. "We hear them speaking in our languages the mighty acts of God." (Acts 2:11)
This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version. Albert Cook of Yale University wrote, "No other book has so penetrated and permeated the hearts and speech of the English race as has the Bible." True enough, but after 400 years it's not easy to understand. For example, Psalm 88:13 says, "In the morning my prayer shall prevent Thee." Huh? Praying to God in the morning will stop Him from doing things? No, "prevent" used to mean "come before." "In the morning my prayer will come before You." The King James has over 500 words that have changed their meaning or are no longer used.
One of the lessons from Pentecost is that God wants us to understand His Word in our own daily language, the way we really speak. Is the King James your favorite for sentimental reasons? Is it dusty? What translation best helps you understand the "mighty acts of God?"
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