The New English Bible with the Apocrypha

by Samuel Sandmel (general editor), M. Jack Suggs (New Testament Editor), Arnold J. Tkacik (Apocrypha Editor)

xxiv 1700p large paper in bright blue cover, very good condition, a little light wear to cover edges and surfaces, otherwise free from wear, binding intact, pages clean and neat, colour maps bright and clear, a very good copy, this copy published in the year 1976

Genres: Religion, Reference, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian, Spirituality, Scripture

1726 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This season’s reread is completed. Next season I plan on reading a chronological version. It’s going to be super cool.

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year, I read a different translation of the Bible, and this year I read through the NEB. I'm not generally a fan of the more dynamic-equivalent style translations. However, the NEB does a good job of retaining the tone of Scripture and rendering the text in good English. There are a few places that are clunky or dated, but the Old Testament poetry and New Testament epistles are particularly good.

This was also the first time I had read through the entire Apocrypha in several years, so that was a good refresher as well.

[Lawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to the publication of The New English Bible, I had only had the King James Translation available to me. This translation retains the beauty of the language of the King James Version with the clarity of modern English. The book of Psalms is particularly wonderful in its lyricism. Of all the translations I have read, this remains my particular favorite because of its literary merit as well as its spirituality.

[Wyatt Houtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this entire book, except for the apocrypha, because it wasn't part of my bible reading plan. I may return to read it another year. The translation is helpful, as it is a fresh translation that is not worded the same way as the KJV/RSV/ESV line of translations. However, I didn't find that the translations were superior to those traditional bibles, maybe out of my own snobbery. The book is very readable, however the edition I used was very thick and had very minimal references and notes on translations, but the upside is this brick is good for self defense, and for body building by the extra weight in my backpack. Overall, the reading was good, and some of the translations had an arian ring to them, but overall, it is a good bible. I don't believe I will go back to it again though, like I would other translations because the freer translation didn't directly transmit the original languages it used.

[Sharman Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading the Old Testament straight through for the fourth time. Right now, I'm on Psalm 51. I'm always amazed at the richness of this book--the beautiful and the horrific, the inspiring and the intolerable, the flawed heroes and the sympathetic non-believers.

As of November 21, I'm up to Isaiah 46. Both God's frustration and His love for His people is palpable! I'm really into the wonderful metaphors of Hebrew poetry--so gritty and evocative!

Dec. 4: Finished chapter 4 of Jeremiah.

Dec. 28: up to Ezekiel 12

Feb. 3: up to Daniel 8

March 1: I finished the Old Testament and now I'm on to the Apocrypha, which I've only read bits of before.

March 5, 2013: Just finished the Apocrypha--some of it was quite entertaining, with great storytelling. I'm glad I read it!

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of 'The New English Bible' for the two semester bible sequence taught by Grinnell College's chaplain, Dennis Haas, along with the Revised Standard Version, the 'King James', the Masoretic Text and 'The Jerusalem Bible'. For class we referred to the RSV, but, because of its superior notes and marginalia, I actually read the Jerusalem at home from cover to cover. The others were for purposes of comparison and exegetical writing exercises.

'The New English Bible' has poor notes, but some may like its relatively colloquial style. In 1989 a new version was published as the 'Revised English Bible'.

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously there’s no point to reviewing this book at all, let alone within the confines of a single paragraph. It took me just over a year to read it, so obviously such a long, involved experience can’t be summed up in a way that would be both simple and honest. Overall I liked the New English translation. Some of the language was a bit too prosaic; for example, some of the poetry gets sucked out of Job. It also every now and again resorts to a peculiarly British turn of a phrase. The footnotes are also inconsistent (especially for an Oxford Study Edition), sometimes providing extensive “well, duh” explanations and in other spots completely ignoring obscure and apparently important passages. But as a first reading-it-from-start-to-finish experience, the plain language was a big plus.

[Daniel Jansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the New Testament and just finished the Apocrypha.

[Laurel Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thoughtful, rigorous, and illuminatimg translation.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd translation. Its stated purpose is "that a translation of the Bible be made in the language of the present day." The work was begun in 1946. This edition was published in 1970. It was done under the auspices of nine British denominations and two Bible societies. Much of the translation is certainly "present-day English" of a decidedly British type. But in other ways, the aura of the KJV remains. "Thee" and"thou" and "thine" remain in the language of prayer. One suspects that this is odd combination is a result of the fact that the supporting denominations were theologically liberal, yet liturgically conservative. There are some striking translations. For example 1 Timothy 6:4, which in the ESV reads, "he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing" is rendered in the NEB as, "I call him a pompous ignoramus." There is also the very unusual translation in Joshua 15:18-19 ( and the parallel passage in Judges 1:14. This latter may well be the result of the use of an Arabic cognate, though there is no textual note to that effect. The translation was changed in the Revised English Bible, which appeared in 1989.
Overall, however, it is an undistinguished translation.

[Angela Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Bible is still the KJV because it seems more poetic. This Bible has some interesting wording that sometimes made me have to look up the interpretation from the Greek or Hebrew. Oddly enough, it was spot on, but it is different than some of the wording in other Bibles. This was also my first time to read the Apocrypha--very interesting. The Maccabees were especially interesting this time because it deals with some of the history of what went on in Jerusalem between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. It really opened my eyes to the corruption in the priesthood before the arrival of Christ (much worse than I ever imagined!).

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern attempt to re-translate the bible from original sources, including more recently uncovered sources such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, into more modern (not slang) English. The work was directed by representatives of various Churches of Great Britain and Ireland. The book is informative & easy to read, illuminating many areas of the scriptures; it is delightful to see how their translations parallel the passages of Joseph Smith's Inspired Translation. This book is a great asset to our religious library.

[Marsha Hudgens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it five stars if not for the ancient english used in the Old Testament when people were talking to God. Can't imagine the reasoning behind that. I've had this translation for a long time, but never read it all the way through. The Bible in any translation is fascinating reading with good stories to please any taste. Each time I read it through, I find a lot things I didn't see before.

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible is one of the two books that I am always 'currently reading'. This is the only one I'm listing on my shelf of 'all time favorites', because it is my all time favorite translation. It has an easy readable style with natural paragraphs rather than chopped up in verses which sometimes interrupt the flow of thought. The verse & chapter numbers are located in the side margins. I'm listing the first date I ever read this particular translation.

[Jaclynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read the Apocrypha...I was glad I did! It was really interesting and an addition of Biblical time history and wisdom, plus several other shorter stories on various people who lived upright lives that glorified God.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must add this to my favoites. I nearly overlooked it as such. I find it more of a handbook for life than a favorite book. For me, it has it all...history, philosophy, poetry, self-help, children's... I can, and do, read and reread and always find and joy and promise.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the introduction to The New Lifetime Reading Plan to thank for giving me the conation to read this book finally; they basically said, if I have to tell you to read the Bible, why are you bothering to read the great books?

[Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this version almost by accident. I feel it is a good merging of KJV poetry and modern.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite edition of the Bible; I've read it twice now. It is not a paraphrase but a modern translation.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accurate easy to read translation

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read the Apocrypha and New Testament portions of this translation . . . Much to say . . . More to come . . .

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Bible I used at St. Andrew's during my adolescence.