Does anyone have an Inclusive Language Bible translation?

[Roseylea]

I am thinking about buying a New International Version Inclusive Language Bible, so I was wondering if anyone has this or any other inclusive language one.

I'm finding the maleness of the language more and more of a PITA (sorry, not very reverent!) and a distraction from what the words as actually saying. When I was younger I could gloss over, for example, Paul saying "Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant..." but nowadays I find myself piping up "Hey! What about me? I'm not a brother!"

I don't think there is a version wot says 'Roseylea, I do not want you to be ignorant...'

I think they're a bit bland, myself, but that's me.

Really, SueBaroo? There isn't a "Just for me" translation? [disappointed!]

Do you mean the inclusive ones are a bit bland?

Try a new Jerusalem Bible - I'm pretty sure that is inclusive (and a better translation than the NIV

I think so, but I kind of prefer using commentaries and study bible notes and bits like that to bring stuff out of the text itself, rather than having the work done for me, iykwim. But that's not the way for everyone.

I don't much mind that Paul was a man of his time and used that language, because I think the themes and other content make it clear that he was using generic terms. Changing the actual words seems a bit 'sanitized' to me, sort of like glossing over the issue.

But I stress, that's just me, and I have far too many different translations in the house already

I use the NRSV, and that tries to be inclusive, using "brothers and sisters" where the Greek says brothers. I don't like the NIV translation (aka the Not Inspired or Nearly Infallible version!).

If you go to Bible gateway, you can look up passages online to see which suits you best:

biblegateway

I like the CEV - contemporary English Version. Grammatically it's been written to be read out IYSWIM. I used it a lot when I was a youth worker and it comes across very well. I'm not sure if it is totally inclusive language, but I know it's not all "brothers" - will have a check. It's definitely my version of choice.

Amplified Bible? I know people take the mick out of it a lot, but it might be an option?

Oooh - they should do a personalised one. That would be ace! My brother got DD a Disney Princess book with her in it as a character. How hard could it be?

The NRSV is supposed to be inclusive, and also the least influenced by issues of doctrine - a more literal translation of the Hebrew/Greek. The NIV sometimes interprets more than translates, IYSWIM

Mary I'm impressed at that Bible Gateway! Lots of trsnslations to choose from!

TellUsMater - My dd has got a Toy Story 2 book with her name as a character too - she helps to save the day!

Usually I read the NIV in the mornings (because it's easy to understand first thing in the morning!) and dip into other translations for comapring / studying etc.

When I was working on a farm, getting up at 4.30 am, the best I could manage was looking at the pictures of the Good News Version (there are some cracking pictures!)

Yup - "my friends" instead of Brothers.

dh would have you all strung up!

Cut him in two and he's got NKJV written all the way through

I tend to use the Nearly Infallible Version for personal bible study, although I do use the Message every so often as well. It's good fun to see the modern colloquialisms. My school bible is the Jerusalem and I can't get used to it. I have a sneaky 'pocket' NIV that I use. For children's work, I use the CEV - I tend to just print out the relevent passages from Bible Gateway for the children to use.

This thread has reminded me of a passage from the Song of Solomon we chose for our wedding. Can't remeber chapter and verse (am a Catrholic, bear with me ), but in the new-fangled version, the next line was "I have a younger sister, her breasts are quite small".

Was so tempted to use it.

That would be Song of Solomon 8:8 (I used to be RC, but now I read my bible )

I've just realised that NRSV isn't there as an option, in which case, I'd recommend this site for NRSV, plus it has a few others: oremus

I use Oremus a lot when searching for texts where I know the phrase I want, but can't remember where its from!

We used to snigger over verses like that during boring sermons, Mater!

I knew someone who was a bit of a wind-up merchant, and he used to go to Bible study groups and so on. When the group was all listening respectfully, he'd say "Ummm...I hope you don't mind my sharing this, but there's a verse that's been...well, puzzling me lately. If I may share it with you..." and he'd go on to read something like what you've posted, just to see people's reactions! (He was a very committed christian, but quite liked winding people up!)

I have a friend who used to send little chapter and verse references in Christmas cards, and they were always irrelevant mickey-takes, like Acts 2:12

I hate the Message version. It's Cheese with a capital Gorgonzola.

Or Leviticus 3:16b (ie the second half of the verse) for those who are "generously proportioned"

Leviticus 3:16