To decide what Bible to read depends on your purpose and preferences, but here are some solid recommendations:
- For serious Bible study, the English Standard Version (ESV) is highly recommended for its close literal translation and accuracy. New King James Version (NKJV) and New American Standard Bible (NASB) are also good literal translations.
- For everyday reading that balances accuracy and readability, the New International Version (NIV) is very popular and accessible to most readers.
- If you prefer a Bible that reads more like contemporary language, the New Living Translation (NLT) offers looser but very readable wording.
- For foundational books to start with or to repeatedly read, Genesis, John, Romans, Psalms, and James are great choices.
So a good approach could be to choose an ESV or NIV Bible for general use, complemented by reading key books like Genesis and John to get to know major biblical themes and the person of Jesus better. If new to reading the Bible, the more readable NLT or NIV might be more engaging initially.
