Favorite Bible Translation?

[Jonathan Aquino]

What translation of the scriptures do people use?

I quite like the original Jerusalem Bible (not to be confused with the New Jerusalem Bible). One of the cool things about the JB is that J. R. R. Tolkien was one of the translators.

The translation sounds so good to my ears. Compare Psalm 51 from the JB:

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness,
in your great tenderness wipe away my faults;

to the same from the NAB:

Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness;
in your abundant compassion blot out my offense

I love the JB's language - it's plain, direct, punchy, and pleasing to the ear.

[Arvin Simon]

I use the Jerusalem Bible because

1. I like the translation
2. I like the 1 column book like layout of the text
3. Has lots of cross references
4. J.R.R. Tolkien is a contributor :D