Revised English Bible

A person can only appreciate the Revised English Bible (REB) if they have some knowledge of its origin. The REB is a revision of the New English Bible (NEB), which was pioneered by the late C.H. Dodd. Before the NEB was published only two English translations were regarded as significant: the King James Version and the Revised Version (1881). The NEB was pioneering in that it was the first entirely fresh translation of the Bible based on the Greek and Hebrew texts since Tyndale. It was not merely a revision of a tradition of English Bibles. What made it arguably the century's greatest translation was the fact that it was done by the finest biblical scholars in Britain and at a time when a biblical scholar was someone who specialised in more than the first verse of John's Gospel. Dodd's razor mind is evidenced in his "Historical Tradition of the Fourth Gospel", a work of dazzling brilliance, which presupposes knowledge of at least ten languages. Although the NEB was pioneering, often its readings were too bold for general acceptance. The REB serves as a healthy corrective and as a balanced regression from the bold scholarship of Dodd's day. It keeps all that is best in the NEB and improves things too, by taking out the Thees and Thous and by adding a polished literary style present in no other modern English translation. The REB also irons out several inaccuracies in the NEB.

In conclusion, the REB is utterly faithful, modern and beautiful. You will read several books before you realise it is time to stop. If you must choose only one translation, this is a noble choice.