No one English translation of the Bible is the absolute best. Each one has its strengths, as well as its weaknesses. Any one translation may be better than another for a particular situation or purpose.

An important factor is the preference of a particular denomination, local church, or Christian group. This preference may influence your choice of a particular version or limit the choice to a certain range of versions. If this situation is not a factor for you, take a step back and think about the wide range of choices available.

To begin, you might find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• Why do I need a new Bible?
• How will I use it: by myself? only at church? in a small group? in a Bible study group?
• Do I want notes and study tools in the Bible?
• Do I like the traditional sound and language of older translations?
• Or do I want my Bible to read more like a modern book with contemporary language?