(02-06-2016, 04:28 PM)GRA Wrote: Here's a comic that I found about certain translations - http://adam4d.com/translations/.
I'm also looking for a Bible to purchase. My mom has the New American Bible, so I was wondering if that would be adequate as I read and become more familiar with the Bible (in general). What supplement reading do you package the Bible with? I read that the Douay–Rheims translation often gets positive marks.
Douay-Rheims if you're looking for an orthodox, traditionally-worded Catholic Bible; DR utilizes the Latin Vulgate.
If you want to use the translation of the Byzantine/Eastern Catholic Churches that also uses traditional language, the KJV with Deuterocanonical books or the NKJV is an option. Obviously these are not Catholic translations but many Eastern churches use them as their English translations in the liturgy.
If you're looking for a more modern translation that uses the name of God (YHWH) and is full of copious footnotes, the 1966 Jerusalem Bible is a good choice.
Perhaps if you're looking for a translation that is more modern but utilizes traditional language, the RSV: Catholic Edition and RSV: Second Catholic Edition are great choices. There's also the Navarre Bible, which uses the RSV: CE as its main text but gives Catholic commentary from a variety of different sources.
Lastly, you can't go wrong with the Knox Bible, which is translated from the Latin Vulgate but was translated in the mid-20th century. It also uses traditional-sounding language but I believe Knox took into consideration Greek sources as well.
Honestly, I wouldn't bother with any other translations from the ones listed above. The NAB/NAB: RE are used liturgies in the U.S.A; while the translation itself is not bad, I would not recommend it due to the modernist footnotes. I often wonder why our church hierarchy and the USCCB is so obsessed with historical-critical method when it comes to translating scripture. Not to mention the fact that they use translators who are not even remotely Catholic.