The NABRE (New American Bible, Revised Edition) and the JB (Jerusalem Bible) are both Catholic translations, but they come from different traditions and take different approaches to rendering the text. The NABRE is the official English Bible for Catholics in the United States and is widely used in parishes and liturgy, while the JB is a mid-twentieth-century translation that many readers value for its literary energy and its scholarly notes. Readers who want a current, standard American Catholic text usually start with the NABRE. Those who enjoy a more vivid, sometimes poetic voice, and who appreciate older Catholic scholarship, often find the JB rewarding.
Background
The New American Bible was produced by Catholic scholars in the United States under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and was first published as a complete Bible in the early 1970s. It was revised in later decades, and the Revised Edition now in use reflects updated scholarship and a revised Psalter. Because it was prepared for American Catholic use, it has a clear institutional home and is the version most commonly printed for Mass readings in the United States.
The Jerusalem Bible grew out of the French Bible de Jerusalem, produced by scholars associated with the Dominican school in Jerusalem, and appeared in English in 1966. It was a landmark for its time, bringing a fresh, readable Catholic translation into wide use across the English-speaking world. Its notes and introductions were influential in Catholic study, though the translation itself has been gradually overtaken in many parishes by newer texts.
Translation Method
Both translations aim for accuracy to the original languages while also producing readable English, which places them in the middle of the spectrum between strictly word-for-word and fully thought-for-thought approaches. The NABRE tends toward a balanced, careful equivalence, keeping close to the structure of the Hebrew and Greek while smoothing sentences for modern readers. Its choices are generally conservative and consistent, which suits study and public reading.
The JB is more willing to take interpretive liberty in its English phrasing, and it often produces striking, memorable sentences that can feel more dynamic than the source’s surface. That freedom gives the text life when read aloud or in a single sitting, but it can also make it harder to check individual word choices against the original. Readers who want to trace vocabulary closely may prefer the NABRE, while those who want a flowing literary experience may find the JB more engaging.
Reading Level and Style
The NABRE is written in plain, contemporary American English and is generally accessible to readers at a high school level, which is part of why it works well for children’s catechesis and general congregational use. Its tone is measured and dignified without being formal in an archaic way.
The JB has a more distinctive voice, with a mix of formal and colloquial phrasing that some readers find lively and others find uneven. Its sentences often feel more literary, and it reads quite differently from the NABRE on the same page, which is part of its appeal for readers who enjoy noticing how a translator’s style shapes a passage.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1-3
1 The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(WEB)
The Psalm opens with a confident statement about shepherding and provision, and the two translations handle its imagery differently. The NABRE keeps the pastoral language clear and steady, aiming for a sentence that reads as a careful rendering of the Hebrew. The JB tends to give the lines a more expressive cadence, shaping the phrasing so the image of rest and restoration feels more vivid when spoken. Both carry the same meaning, but a reader will notice the NABRE sounding measured and the JB sounding more lyrical.
Who Should Use It
Choose the NABRE if you want the text used in American Catholic parishes, if you are following the Mass readings closely, or if you want a dependable study Bible with contemporary notes and wide institutional support. Its clarity makes it a good default for personal reading and for group study.
Choose the JB if you enjoy a strong literary voice, if you want to read a classic of twentieth-century Catholic translation, or if you value its older commentary tradition. Be aware that its wording can be less consistent than the NABRE’s, and that some of its phrasing is dated, so it works best as a second Bible alongside a more current text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NABRE the official Bible for Catholics in the United States?
The NABRE is the translation approved for use in the Lectionary for Mass in the United States. It is widely used in parishes and is the text most Catholics in the country hear proclaimed at Sunday liturgy.
Is the Jerusalem Bible still in print?
The Jerusalem Bible remains available, though it is less commonly used in parishes than it once was. Many readers still own copies for its notes and literary style.
Which translation should I read if I am new to the Bible?
Most beginners find the NABRE easier to follow because its language is plain and its wording is consistent. You can add the JB later if you want to compare how a different translator handled the same passage.
