REB New Testament, Green Imitation Leather, RE212N: The New Testament, Green, Imitation Leather, RE212:N (Cambridge Bibles) Leather Bound – 17 Oct. 2019

Looking for proper English not 'Anglicised' American translation? I like this edition so much I bought 3 of them! One for the Quaker meeting house to replace some tatty versions of the New English Bible of which this is a child of, and two for me . The new edition available on Amazon in particular (not the picture here), has a lovely watercolor painting of Ely Cathedral on the sleeve which makes it extra nice. Although dating back to 1989, the REB has a very modern and also particularly English feel to it. In fact you don't need to go to the Authorised Version to discover some lovely quintessential words - so refreshing next to the the more modern-dumbed down versions like the NIV and the ESV. There is an easy flow to the language, giving it a familiar received English rhythm and sonorance. Some of the words are really not Generation X or beyond, and sometimes I need a dictionary. I'll give some random examples, firstly from the all too familiar Psalm 23 - "goodness and love unfailing will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord throughout the years to come." It has to be a little distinct, for instance Isaiah 2.4 - "They will beat their swords into mattocks... " Also check out the beautiful tiny red pocket version 1990 if you can find it, and the impressive paperback REB Oxford Study Bible.

Excellent translation from Oxford and Cambridge with cooperation from most British churches, really stands out from other translations especially when reading the poetic/prophetic texts and Pauline letters. hauntingly beautiful at times.