St. Jerome is a giant in the intellectual history of the church. He is best known for translating the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek into Latin. His translation, called the Vulgate, remained the most commonly used version of scripture for over 1,100 years.
The following translations of the Bible are all approved for Catholic use and are among the most commonly used translations.
New American Bible (NAB) Vatican Edition (1970) link
This version is still used today for OLD testament readings in the Catholic Liturgy.
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) (1986/2011)
The 1986 revision of the NEW testament is still being used today in the Catholic Liturgy. Also used on the USCCB website.
Note: In Nov. 2024, the USCCB approved a revised New American Bible text for liturgical use. It has been sent to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (abbreviated DDW) in Rome for review. Eventually, the intention is to use this as the lectionary. The old testament will switch to the 1986 NABRE, while the new testament will be newly translated.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE or RSV-CE) (1966)
Recommended by respected Catholic scholars as the best translation.
It retains the more archaic language, including "thee," "thou," and other associated verb forms like "didst" and "speaketh".
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE or RSV-2CE) (2006)
A minor revision of the RSVCE that modernizes the language, removing archaic pronouns and verb forms. Maintains a traditional approach, closely adhering to the original texts.
Used by Ignatius Study Bible (Scott Hahn), Great Adventure Catholic Bible (Jeff Cavens), Hallow app, Ascension app, and Bible in a Year podcast (Fr. Mike).
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE or NRSV-CE) (1993)
A revision of the RSVCE that uses inclusive language and sometimes prioritizes clarity or inclusivity over strict literalness.
Used by Word on Fire Bible (Bishop Barron).
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue) (2022) (Catholic edition not yet available)
A major revision of the NRSV.
As of July 2024, a catholic edition has been submitted for review by the USCCB with the request for an imprimatur.
Abbreviation Name Date
DRB Douay–Rheims Bible, 1582, 1609, 1610 (This was the standard English translation until the 1960s)
DRB Douay–Rheims Bible Challoner Revision, 1749–1752
CB Confraternity Bible, 1941
Knox Knox Bible, 1950
KLNT Kleist–Lilly New Testament, 1956
RSV Revised Standard Version - Oxford Annotated Bible, 1965
JB Jerusalem Bible, 1966
NEB New English Bible, 1970
TLB–CE The Living Bible Catholic Edition, 1971
NJB New Jerusalem Bible, 1985
CCB Christian Community Bible, 1988
REB Revised English Bible, 1989
GNT–CE Good News Translation Catholic Edition, 1993
CTS–NCB CTS New Catholic Bible, 2007
NLT-CE New Living Translation Catholic Edition, 2015
ESV-CE English Standard Version Catholic Edition, 2017
RNJB Revised New Jerusalem Bible, 2019 (Popular in the UK)
NCB St. Joseph New Catholic Bible, 2019 (Popular among families due to its accessible language)
Nihil Obstat: This phrase, meaning "nothing stands in the way," is granted by a censor, a priest or other authorized person, who reviews the manuscript and finds no theological or moral objections. It's the initial step in the approval process.
Imprimatur: Meaning "let it be printed," this is granted by a bishop after the Nihil Obstat, signifying the bishop's permission for the work to be published.
NAB *(New American Bible, 1Vatican Edition 1970) link
Gen 37:3, Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long ornamented tunic.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel.
John 21:7, Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was lightly clad), and threw himself into the sea.
NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition, 1986/2011)
Gen 37:3, Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long ornamented tunic.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.
RSVCE (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, 1966)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.
RSV2CE *(Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, 2006)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved[b] said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.
NRSVCE (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, 1993)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.
NRSVue (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, 2022)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him an ornamented robe.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.
RSV (Revised Standard Version, 1965)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman′u-el.
John 21:7, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.
NCB (New Catholic Bible - St. Joseph Edition, 2019)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he was the son of his old age, and he made for him a long robe with sleeves.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore, you will be given this sign by the Lord himself: The virgin will be with child, and she will give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel.
John 21:7, Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard him say that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.
GNT-CE (Good News Translation - Catholic Edition, 1993)
Gen 37:3, Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a long robe with full sleeves for him.
Isaiah 7:14, Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have a son and will name him ‘Immanuel.’
John 21:7, The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water.
NASB (New American Standard Bible, 1971)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a multicolored tunic.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel.
John 21:7, Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
NIV (New International Version, 1978/1984/2011)
Gen 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
John 21:7, Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
* Not listed on biblegateway.com