We couldn't have said it better! "They can read it. They can apply it. And they can grow in the things of God. And that's what it's all about." You are exactly right - that's what it's all about! Thank you!
I carry around a Bible with me in my purse everywhere I go. I was using the KJV but every time I went to read out of it, nobody could understand what the text was saying and I had to translate what the text said. I switched to the NLT so now if I ever want to share a verse from the Bible now everyone can understand it, including me :)
Yes! I’m an evangelist that used the NKJV for 20 years ago and at the beginning of 2023 I bought a cheap NLT Bible off of Amazon and it’s my go to now. I wish I had a Schuyler NLT or the NLT Select but that little cheap one with the mountain map looking cover is my go to. I recommend the NLT at every church I minister at!
This is TERRIBLE advice, I highly recommend the New living translation Bible BUT using ONE verse OUT OF CONTEXT is NOT the way to figure out which Bible translation to use.
Respectfully, the NLT is way too interpretive to read as anything but a gloss on what the text might be meaning. All translation involves interpretive decisions, but so-called “thought for thought” puts all of the hermeneutic responsibility upon the translator and prevents the target-language reader from dealing honestly with God’s word.
The way I tend to think of it is that the KJV, NASB, etc. try to provide as little of the translators' interpretive opinions as possible in their translations, whereas the NLT provides almost as much interpretation as possible. This can be really helpful when the NLT provides a good interpretive rendering of a difficult verse, but it also means that almost none of the ambiguities of the original text are allowed to remain. I often find when I read the NLT (especially in the NT) that the translators have made an interpretive decision with which I disagree. But someone who was only reading the NLT would never even n=know they had made a decision at all! Whereas the NASB or KJV tend to leave most interpretive decisions up to the reader, the NLT makes most of them for you. So I do highly recommend consulting the NLT and reading from it, but I don't recommend people use it as the only Bible they ever read. Just my two cents. One other advantage of the NLT - I lead Bible studies with incarcerated juveniles who often have a very low reading ability, and the NLT is a huge blessing in those kinds of settings. So much easier to read than my usual ESV.
I just discovered the NLT a couple months ago, and I told one of my friends, it's like reading a bible with helpful commentaries built in :) So I agree that liberties are taken by the translators. But for me, post middle aged, mentally burned out, saddled with brain fog that makes it hard to think, it's such a blessing to pop open the pages and just read something that clicks, knowing that it's close enough to the original intent that I can still learn and grow spiritually, even if I am missing some fine granularity that an egg head (no disrespect intended... I was one before my decline) would appreciate!
Thanks for this. For a long time I've used the NLT for reading and NKJV for study and memorization. But, even with verses I've memorized they become so much more clear when I read the NLT. It's foolish to memorize a harder to understand version just because it's more literal. I'm going 99% NLT for everything from now on, I'll still consult different versions from time to time but I'm done worrying what other people think.
John 15:26- The Holy Spirit (that lives in believers) will teach you everything about scripture regardless of the translation ( The Spirit will let you know what you're reading isn't accurate )...
I don’t know how to be a human. Only one person did. And He came to die. To lay his life down. The literal light of creation limited to a human body for us. We are unworthy but God’s love is that great.
brother!!!!!!!!!!! this is so good!!! I just got into the NLT this past year and I LOVE IT! and I got it Spanish too for Spanish ministry, also got my Spanish speaking Mom a bible and she says the scriptures are speaking to her differently now!!
Top content, my man. I’m getting me an NLT. I’ve been a primarily (not only) KJV for most of my Christian life, and I usually only supplement it with other literal translations like NASB95 and the ESV. This is very convincing.
1. Reasons I love the NLT: a. Clarity and naturalness. Clarity refers to whether a text is comprehensible or understandable. For example, the sentence "I am one who is called John" is clear. However, this isn't how most people speak. Most people would simply say "My name is John". That's more natural. In fact, that's both clear and natural. And the NLT is both clear and natural. The NLT speaks to us in contemporary English. It's just like talking with a friend, not like talking with Yoda (e.g. ESV). I think this is the NLT's greatest strength. b. Audience appropriateness. The NLT is appropriate for multiple different audiences. It's appropriate for many children. It's appropriate for people whose first language isn't English but are learning English. It's appropriate for the biblically illiterate inasmuch as it's becoming increasingly common in our culture that many people have little if any familiarity with the Bible and its contents (e.g. they wouldn't always correctly understand "churchy" words like "hallowed" or "propitiation" let alone "Biblish"). And the NLT is even appropriate for Christians in general who wish to have a smooth read-through of the entire Bible. 2. Some (mostly minor) gripes I have with the NLT, which again I generally love: a. Accuracy. On the one hand, the NLT is often (surprisingly) accurate in capturing nuances in the biblical Hebrew and Greek that some formal equivalence translations don't capture (and perhaps can't capture due to their formal equivalence translation philosophy). For example, compare some of the historical narrative passages in the OT in a formal equivalent translation with the NLT. The NLT can often bring out a fuller meaning that truly is in the text than a formal equivalence translation. On the other hand, there are times when the NLT can be overly interpretive. It makes definitive exegetical decisions for the reader. Sometimes it even adds in more than what the text says. For instance, the Greek scholar Bill Mounce points out the NLT's translation of Acts 27:17: "the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast". The phrase "off the African coast" is not in the Greek. It's been added by the NLT translators for clarification. However, it'd arguably be better to put "off the African coast" in the footnotes if it needs to be clarified. As such, the NLT is overly interpretive. As such, if we read the NLT alone (without reference to the biblical languages), it can be hard to know if one is reading the original Hebrew or Greek text or if one is reading text that's been added in by the translators. b. Historical distance. Ideally there should be historical distance in terms of the time and culture of the biblical text (i.e. so modern audiences can enter into the ancient world of the biblical text), but there should not be historical distance in terms of the language (i.e. the language should sound to us as it did to the original audience). At times the NLT does not have as much historical distance in terms of the time and culture of the biblical text as it should. It makes the ancient world seem a bit too much like our day and age. c. Register. Register refers to literary style. A higher register refers to a more formal literary style, whereas a lower register refers to a more informal literary style. Consider the NT. Most of the NT is in koine ("common") Greek, even though literary Greek existed at the time and was used by the best writers across the Roman empire. However, for various reason(s), the NT authors wrote in common every day Greek. C.S. Lewis may have put it best: "The New Testament in the original Greek is not a work of literary art: it is not written in a solemn, ecclesiastical language, it is written in the sort of Greek which was spoken over the eastern Mediterranean after Greek had become an international language and therefore lost its real beauty and subtlety. In it we see Greek used by people who have no real feeling for Greek words because Greek words are not the words they spoke when they were children. It is a sort of 'basic' Greek; a language without roots in the soil, a utilitarian, commercial and administrative language." The main exceptions to this are Hebrews and the prologue in Luke 1:1-4 which are written in a higher register than the rest of the NT. Likewise, there are other parts of the Bible that are set in a more poetic and arguably higher register (e.g. Psalms, Ecclesiastes). Now, I think an English translation should reflect the literary style of the original text. If it's in a higher register, then the translation should be in a similarly higher register as well. But the NLT tends to flatten out the literary style of the entire Bible such that the Bible sounds more or less the same across the board. That is, it sounds like ordinary, conversational, colloquial English.
Amen! I bought an inspire journaling bible (NLT) without paying attention to the translation because I wanted it for the journaling aspect, but when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I love God's word, but if I'm honest, I always found it to be a chore to read. I hoped that the journaling bible would help to motivate me to read more. It did, but not because of the journaling, it helped because I could easily read and understand it. 😇
I agree it is easier to understand but sometimes it kind of does interpreting for you and can from time to time soften the blow of sin I have found. Definitely not the worst translation but not my favorite either.
My mom would say to me for putting off some work that my theme song for life was the annie movie song. 🎤Tommorow tomorrow I love ya tomorrow its only a daaaaaaaaay aaaaaaa waaaaaaaay.🎵 ROFL! 🤣🤣🤣
I hesitated for quite a while for various reasons... But, I forced myself to read the NLT cover to cover earlier this year after having yet another person member ask me, "What Bible translation should I get?" AND having yet another (different) person tell me that they had been reading the NLT for a bit and were really understanding it better than their other Bible translations. Yeah... I was pretty blown away to find it quite "Bible-y" (not overly "fluffy" or just a "paraphrase") while definitely being very easily readable. As you say, it pretty much words Scripture how I often explain it. (It's almost like it is doing the job of a Pastor/teacher, breaking it down on its own.) While it is not my personal STUDY Bible translation, it WOULD be the one I'd want if I was stranded on a desert island with absolutely no other resources (not even a dictionary) and it is also now my #1 recommended translation for any new Christian I encounter. (The CSB was my second.)
You're so right! I've never read the Bible before, and I bought an ESV scripture journal set a few months ago, but I heard that it's good to study the Bible with different translations. I bought my first NLT a few weeks ago, and it has transformed my Bible study! It's so much easier to read and understand than any other Bible I've ever seen. I've tried reading the KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NIV, but the NLT is the best by far. My undergraduate degree is in English, and the debate over different translations reminds me of a lot of the discussions I had with my classmates. Language is dynamic, we don't speak today, the same way people did 50 years ago, and people 50 years from now, won't speak like we do. As our language changes, our translations need to change too, otherwise, something will be lost along the way because nobody will know what it means.
The bottom line is any Bible you start reading you should pray for wisdom and understand the word of God and let the Holy Spirit teach you The Holy Spirit will give you a true revelation in the world of God
I used the NLT since 1996 in my teaching & preaching and encouraged others to read the NLT. Chuck Swindoll has also changed from the NASB to the NLT. Thanks for your video.
I got saved on the NLT in 2016 - as a new born, I didn't even know there were different bible translations then, I just picked up what whichever Bible I had that had dust on it, read it, and was transformed. I bought myself a Pitt Minion later that year in 2016 that I just retired as of this month in 2023. It has been absolutely destroyed. I do not think someone has a more beaten up Pitt Minion. Unfortunately, Cambridge, who makes the best personal size bible IMHO (Pitt Minion), does not print the NLT anymore. I was on the NASB for the last year and have been using it to preach as it is word for word, but I cannot do through reading with it as it is too confusing. I bought a Schuyler Quentel NLT, but the text, size, and font of the Pitt Minion is still my favorite. I find a really nice median between word for word and understandability with the NKJV. I just got a NKJV Pitt Minion and would love to get it rebound by you for longevity. Really appreciate your videos and tutorials, brother!
Several years ago I had a pastor that I worked with tell me that he was going through the NLT , I grew up in a KJV only church and so I was curious, I read it some and forgot about it, a few years later fell in love with the NKJV and Have recently been wanting to explore other versions and remembered the NLT and am currently doing a 90 day chronological reading through the whole Bible , in the NLT and I am loving it! I look forward to reading it every morning
Real men read the Bible, period! whether it's the KJV, NKJV NIV, NLT, ESV, CSB or the LSB. Read the one you can understand the message best. Just not a translation with an agenda. You know which those are.
I’ve always loved my 1984 NIV but have a NLT. The other day I was on my Bible app reading a certain scripture. I like to see what it says in different versions since it’s so easy to change versions on the app & I was blown away at how clear the NLT was. I’m definitely going to start reading it. It’s also excellent to listen to on the Bible app. The narrator is easy to listen to.
I never understood most of what I read in KJV. 1991 I bought an NIV. A few years ago I discovered NLT and a variety of other transactions. NLT is my 1st preference and ESV is 2nd preference. By the way, I understand your method of organizing.😊Thanks for sharing!
I think it’s based on where you’re raised. Being raised as a southern baptist, they preached the KJV/NKJV however they explained everything. As long as your reading his word, making his word flesh and preaching the gospel you are then a REAL MAN. There’s a lot of bad people utilizing his word for their gain that read all translations.
I’m having difficulties understanding the KJV Bible but I’ve always been told to read it only. I don’t really think that’s the truth I think I’ve been told that by people stuck in there ways do y’all recommend the NLT and believe it to be accurate I’m really interested in the NLT by what research I’ve done.
I’ve been going down the translation rabbit hole for several months now. My congregation leadership uses NKJV exclusively but I couldn’t help but notice how much time the pastor spends each sermon explaining what a passage means in more concise English. I’ve settled mostly on the CSB as my daily reading bible with the NKJV as my Sunday/Wednesday Bible. I was gifted a NLT and I’ve found it refreshing to keep nearby as a cross-reference for when the NKJV or CSB text leaves some questions. I don’t think I could use NLT as my primary daily reader because there’s just too many interpretation liberties taken, but I appreciate it for its clarity in many passages. Edit: For people who poo-poo on the NLT, consider this: Humble Lamb just announced the next in their premium line will be the NLT and they received a lot of praise. And for the KJV-only-ists, you do realize your unwavering devotion to a single translation borders on idolatry, right?
I could not agree more. I always find it wild how much time a Pastor has to spend simply explaining what a verse means. I could certainly understadn why- as it was always very hard for me to read. I went down a rabbit hole trying ot find a modern "trustworthy" translation and went way father down that hole than I should have. I came to the conclusion that many mroe bible versions are pretty good than most give credit. I settle on the NLT b/c WOW is it just so much easier to read and understand. particularly if I want to share verses with those who are not partcularly "bible people". There are those who say alot of nuance is lost, but honestly- we're reading tranlations of translation of translations. If you want the orginal nuance, you are gonna have to go learn "acient common" Greek.
1st John 5:7 and compare KJV, NASB, NKJV, NLT. If any translation doesn't come flat out as having to do with the Trinity it is not scripture. I will say however if the NLT or any translation that isn't flat out blasphemy speaks to you then use it but always make sure what it's saying is accurate.
Read what you have and let the Spirit of God help you understand. Easy is not always better, the translation debate continues until the Lord returns. God bless you
I've been reading the NLT recently since it was the only one available in a specific one year reading order I wanted, and every time so far that I've saw some translation choice I thought odd, it was perfectly acceptable once I checked the translator notes on the NET Bible showing details of the Greek
As a firm KJB only-ist, I actually really like my NLT (Illustrated Study Bible) as an AID, not on it's own. I found that it's a bit of a wild card at times (eg. Nbr. 24:9 is just strait up wrong). The channel "Truth is Christ" brought me to accept the KJB as God's Word and I couldn't recommend the channel enough‼️‼️
Not being sarcastic, but you say KJB twice. Is this a translation that I may be unfamiliar with, or is it just a double KJV typo? V and B are next to each other on keyboard, so that' likely. However if there is a translation out there I don't know, I want to find it.
@GINZO4849 I get what you mean, and it really does look like a typo. The reason I, along with others, refer to the "KJV" as the "KJB" is because it's not just a "version"-- It's the King James 🅱️ible! I pray that makes sense 👍
@frostLeather Look into the critical text, then what the KJB uses, and you'll see why it's perfect and sound-- and why new-age versions aren't. I say this in love, and pray that God reveals it to you ε>
The NLT is an excellent translation. It’s frequently better than the more formal ones. However, the NLT occassionally dumbs things down to the point of being a hindrance
Every translation has fail points, I look at what its great at, the value it brings. and the NLT is above any translation in terms of receiving truths from Gods word.
Thank you so much brother! I been trying to find an affordable Spanish bible online and they only seem to have the NLT and 1960 Reina Valera. I already have the 1960 Reina Valera at home but wanted one that's easier to understand for when we speak to a new person about Jesus. Is NLT pretty similar in wording to the NIV? Thank you for any input 😊
I'm about to receive my first ever bible that I bought. I'm excited. I was worried that I made a wrong choice of not researching the importance of translated version but this vodeo gave me assurance that I bought a good bible translation.
The Bible is a Jehovah book (Isaiah 43:10-12) and written by Jehovah's witnesses starting with Moses. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is the most accurate Bible on this planet earth and they are free.
Who has a Schuyler NLT that they want to sow into my life? 😁. After 20 years of NKJV I’ve switched to the NLT and love it! The Word comes alive to me when I read from the NLT!!! 🔥🔥🔥@NewLivingTranslation
In my opionion i believe that is the beauty of multiple translations. That you can always look upon other ones when you cant understand a verse or a chapter. I love reading the nasb and the esv for study, but i also read the nkjv and the nlt when i come to a part i need more clarity or understanding. Great video !
My thoughts exactly. I can understand it, read it and not lose interest because I can’t understand it. I got criticized for buying it/ reading it, told to “be careful” but I just told the person the verbage might be different but it’s expressing the same thing in a language I can understand it. It’s kind of like trying to learn beginning Spanish, in Spanish 3. When I hear a sermon from the KJV it has to be translated down anyways. The NLT doesn’t have to explain what it’s talking about - it’s clear. The past two days since I bought it I have read more of the Bible than any other time in my life.
You say “real men” read the new living translation, I could not disagree more with you. Here’s why, open every translation you have and match the following verses and I pray God opens your eyes to His truth. Omitted verses in all but the KJV (just giving a few examples) there are so many more): Matt 17:21, Matt 18:11, Mark 15:28, Luke 23:17, John 5:4. I pray you get the point. These most crucial verse of these books and chapters have been omitted on purpose, by those who don’t teach Gods absolute truth. Please stop reading all those crap translations. There are also verses that have omitted words such as Matt 1:25, John 3:13, Colossians 1:14, 1 John 5:7-8, and then there is also Mark 9:49 and 1 John 5:7 which are half verses, which you will see when you compare those wrong translations beside the KJV. And one last thing I believe that needs addressed is the fact that if you actually read how the KJV is written, it’s basic 5th grade readability. I pray this finds you well and that God opens not just yours but all eyes, ears, minds and hearts, and gives you understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Also please remember 2 Timothy 2:15, rightly dividing the truth. May I recommend watching and listening to foundationalbibleteachings and the door here on RU-vid. I love you and pray the many blessings on you and yours
I think it's more of condemnation of our failing education system. Of course, some people have difficulty understanding things in the same way that most others do and that is the reason that we need other translations but, most people these days require a college degree to gain the same understanding and knowledge as a high school sophomore from fifty years ago. That's not okay. There is also the fact that many young people coming to Christ these days have never been in a church and so haven't been exposed to the KJV. Without having read Shakespeare in school they aren't going to grasp Elizabethan English as easily. I think perhaps it is the fact that the KJV has been in use for over 400 years and is so different from our current language it makes it feel more holy in a sense. We don't speak that way in our daily discourse but as soon as we begin to pray, the Thee's and Thou's start echoing in our heads whilst being completely unnecessary.
Glad to here you need a bible translation to validate as to if you are a man or not. I would have thought that your reproductive organs, facial hair ext would have answered that. Me I have and read many translations, and have zero problems understanding what I am reading. That is because the Holy Spirit guides me and He is my teacher, where as if I did not have the holy spirit then I might have issues with understanding and discernment.
Thanks for the video Jeremiah! And yes, I agree that the NLT is very clear and helpful. Indeed I want to purchase a NLT and send it to be rebound, but I don't know what text block to choose. There are new Tyndale bibles that are in the market but I don't find anywhere what is the gsm of the paper nor the font. Do you know any NLT that you can recommend for rebinding? Thanks again!
Sorry, bother, I can’t agree with you on this one. Before other considerations, the most important criterion for Bible translation is accuracy. The translation must reflect the original text. In this regard the NLT falls far short. The translation may sound nice, but often does not actually represent the original text, which results in big gaps of understanding. Your criterion that that other translations “just miss something” is not very objective.
My perfect choice would be an NLT/KJV parallel Bible that is Smyth sewn, large print, and quality opaque paper. Sadly, this Bible has yet to be manufactured.
I have hoped for an edition like that for some time! May use the glued spine one they make for now and believe God to speak to these people for a better one lol
I’m of the belief that the only Holy Bible is the KJB, new version strip the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and sow much doubt and confusion, sometimes even removing words that Jesus himself spoke. I don’t doubt people’s salvation, but our function is to praise and glorify God and the only honest Bible is a King James Bible. I thought this was a satire to be perfectly honest.
God has not allowed his word to be corrupted but refined that We who where born for a time like this can Understand what God's word actually means for ourselves not someone else . Thank you for sharing . I have KJV and NIV but like you said the NIV just leaves a lot to be desired for my spirit. I'm definitely ordering this NLV for study cause KJV leaves me stumped a lot and NIV not enough .
I use a dynamic translation when I read aloud to my children in the prayer rule, but the NLT i sa dynamic trnslation that cannot make the cut. It alters the text in some very important ways to insert oral traditions I'd rather not expose my children to. I think it might be fine for some uses, but like candy, too much of it is unhealthy and will make a person spiritually ill.
You can read any translation you want, but the KJV is the standard, therefore I'm content with the NKJV; and the KJVER will open your eyes as well. But I can show you 2 verses that make the entire NLT a corrupt version
@frostLeather I'm not KJVO, I just understand the divide. I used to be NLT and living bible, and then I got serious about The Word of God. What does Matt 5:6 say in the NLT.
Haha! I’ve been down those translation / biblical criticism rabbit holes lately. I like pretty much all of them. I have a couple of NLTs and NLT is on the lineup for….. 2025 2023 NASB 2024 ESV 2025 NLT 2026 LSB 2027 NKJV 2028 HCSB 2029 KJV 2030 NET 2031 NIV
Amen! Christian’s love to major on the minors and divide, instead of appreciating blessings we enjoy in America like the many translations we have available.
The point where I stopped reading the NLT is John 7:7, the word accuse is a synonym of the Greek word most translations use for testify. When I looked at the concordance accuse wasn’t to be found except under the syn (synonym) section. 😢disheartening. They probably ran into copyright laws and had to pick a different word.
I gotta say. I watched this video and made my comment and walked away. And it kept gnawing at me. One thing, why make the comment when reading from the NKJV, TR? As to say what exactly. Why even bring that up when the video seems more geared toward translation philosophy vice manuscript evidence philosophy. Another thing, why label it Real Men read… that just indicates you agree there’s a general consensus most men don’t consider it manly to read it. One last point, it is in the paraphrase category it may be on the fringe but it’s there. So you need to make sure that what it’s translating is accurately understood and accurately portrayed by the translation team’s thought. God bless.
It's a thought for thought translation rather than a more word for word translation. I think it has an inestimable value but it's not perfect. But then again neither is the KJV, ESV, or NASB. I think where the NLT shines is not in word studies but in being read a pericope at a time.
First off, thank you for your labor in teaching/ giving insight into the bible binding world. I've seen brothers and sisters who use NLT only, but they lean heavily on charismatic/ egalitarianism, which concerns me. I see nothing wrong using the NLT. Personally, I would use a more word for word translation and just consult a commentary or interlinear for hard passages.
God bless you! I primarily use the NLT for daily reading & the Greek/Hebrew for study. Question, what’s wrong with being charismatic? (Please use scripture and not what you see/hear in some churches.)
@@davidhiramreyes6490 Excessive use of tongues particularly without interpretation would be a big one for me. Also the false healings that get peddled regularly in big charismatic churches. I would agree @theninjacoffee that it is also used by egalitarian churches. And it tends to soften the blow of most sins. Sometimes I have found NLT can do the interpreting for you too which is not great. However, it is very good at converting measurements into things that we can better understand such as cubits to feet. Example: "Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high." ~ NLT Gen 6:15 vs "And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits." ~ KJV Gen 6:15
Amen, brother in Christ! That ending was right on the button; no need for any further elaboration for those who truly love Jesus. While all the other formal equivalency translations are vital for in-depth Scriptural study, the NLT perfectly bridges the head and the heart in pursuit of God-glorifying obedience to the words of the Lord Almighty. To every Christian watching this video, go and read the NLT. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads you in His ways before the Father through the life of the Son. Soli Deo gloria!
You hit on it when you said you read the KJV and then the NLT kind of explains it clearly. In my opinion, the NLT is not suited for Bible study. It’s more like a Bible commentary. Has it’s place for sure.
I recomended NLT to my wife to start out with. I like ESV for more serious study but compare to NLT, NIV, and KJV when analyzing specific verses. I hear new king james version and nasb are good but haven't read them. I have a kjv but only use it for cross refrencing. Kjv snobs usually tend to be hard headed cultural christians with pretentious and self glorifying attitudes.
I've been really enjoying and appreciating your videos! I love beautiful Bibles, and it's a delight to see them created ;-) I do have a question, though: are there any styles of Bibles you generally DON'T recommend rebinding/restoring (or perhaps find especially difficult to do a proper job of rebinding)? For instance, would a degraded glued binding be more difficult to rebind/restore than a Smyth sewn binding?
I love both the NLT and CSB for the main reason of being able to understand, especially in the Old Testament. My church preaches from the ESV. Occasionally, the pastor might point out a word or phrase that he doesn't think the ESV gets quite right. Almost every time, the NLT or CSB use the word or phrase he says is more accurate.