The Bible is at the heart of the Catholic faith, whether we realize it or not: Sacred Scripture is proclaimed at every Mass and is woven through every prayer and liturgical action of the Church. Catholics are also strongly encouraged to read and study the Bible on their own. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

The Church "forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful... to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." (CCC 133)

As anyone who's shopped for a Bible knows, there are many different versions available for purchase. The texts of Scripture were originally written centuries ago in ancient Hebrew and Greek, and the English-language Bibles we find today are all translations of those original texts. Some offer literal, word-for-word translations—this is called "formal equivalence"—while others aim to convey the general meaning of a passage in a more readable way—this is called "dynamic equivalence." The many options can be a little overwhelming.

If you're thinking about buying a new Bible, here are three popular Catholic translations to consider. I've provided sample texts from each to help you decide which one might best meet your needs.

New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)

The NABRE is almost certainly the most widely used Catholic Bible in the United States. It was commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and is the official translation used at Mass in the U.S. It's designed to be understood by a modern audience and includes thorough study introductions and footnotes. The translation leans toward "dynamic equivalence" (i.e., "thought-for-thought" rather than strictly "word-for-word") and occasionally departs from traditional Catholic phrasing. The NABRE is used in many widely available Catholic Bibles, including the St. Joseph Edition.

Sample texts:

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth — and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters... (Genesis 1:1–2, NABRE)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26–28, NABRE)

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)

The RSV2CE is a more literal ("formal equivalence") translation of the Bible and is often used by Catholic Scripture scholars, teachers, and students because of its fidelity to the original Hebrew and Greek. A variation of this text is used throughout the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The RSV2CE is also the translation used in the popular Bible in a Year podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz, The Great Adventure Bible by Ascension Press, and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.

Sample texts:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1–2, RSV2CE)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:26–28, RSV2CE)

English Standard Version, Catholic Edition (ESVCE)

The ESVCE is a newer Catholic translation of Sacred Scripture that seeks to provide a precise, word-for-word rendering of the original texts. The ESVCE is published in the United States by the Augustine Institute and is the official translation used at Mass in India and some other regions. Although it is not as widely known as the NABRE or RSV2CE, this newer translation is gaining popularity and is well worth considering.

Sample texts:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1–2, ESVCE)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:26–28, ESVCE)

Popular Bible teacher Jeff Cavins has often said that the best Bible translation is the one that you read, so find the translation that works before for you and start reading!