Rating: 
Summary: not the same as the Jerusalem Bible used in church readings
Review: Readers who grew up with church readings based on the original Jerusalem Bible should be aware that this is a quite different translation. The language is duller and more prosaic, though many sections, e.g., the Psalms, are still translated into free verse that often achieves serene beauty. As other reviewers have noted, the OT very frequently uses Yahweh instead of "Lord", so that many old favorite verses sound rather surprising. "Yahweh is my shepherd" ?! This is simply to be faithful to the original. Modern Jews and Christians avoid taking the name of God ("Yahweh") in vain by never taking it at all, but this tradition had not yet developed when most of the OT was written. In fact, many Israelites were polytheists at the time, so that the scribes had to make it quite clear which God they were referring to. Other terms left untranslated "Yahweh Sabaoth" (or God of Armies?) and "El Shaddai" The OT in general is a bit surprising. Most Christian translators, following the logic in Galatians and Hebrews, view vast tracts of the Old Testament as simply prefiguring the new, and this tends to affect their translation and commentary. Here the only concern is to as faithfully as possible try to represent what the original writers wanted to say. Whether or not the old testament prefigures the new is left to the reader. The notes and introductions are excellent, frankly presenting the consensus opinions of modern historians even when they go against church tradition. For example, we are told that the Song of Songs was originally a secular love-song, but that Church tradition has come to view it differently. Also, we are told that Daniel (also several other books, like Judith,Tobit,Esther) is a work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: English scholarship, still tops
Review: The guys who worked on this translation are as good as they get-- Rome and Oxford backgrounds. Anthony Kenny, Oxford philosopher and former Jesuit (currently Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford), discusses the work behind this translation in his autobiography. Kenny was one of the translators, but even HIS work was overhauled for the final draft-- Kenny has doctorates from the Gregorianum and Oxford.Some have said that J.R.R. Tolkien was one of the NJB translators. This is false. He was scheduled to be, but never came through with adequate translation. (Another indication of the high standards of the NJB, when an Oxford philologist like Tolkien is considered below par!).
Rating:
Summary: Very scholarly translation and footnotes
Review: The leather edition of the New Jerusalem Bible does not contain the extensive footnotes that are noted in the reviews of the hardcover and paperback versions. The box containing this volume states that this version has "NJB translators footnotes throughout." Note well that these footnotes are only about two or three words in length and typically refer only to alternate translations of words. The footnotes (sometimes requiring a half-page) that I had expected to find were not in this edition.
Rating: 
Summary: Limited Footnotes in Leather Edition
Review: The leather edition of the New Jerusalem Bible does not contain the extensive footnotes that are noted in the reviews of the hardcover and paperback versions. The box containing this volume states that this version has "NJB translators footnotes throughout." Note well that these footnotes are only about two or three words in length and typically refer only to alternate translations of words. The footnotes (sometimes requiring a half-page) that I had expected to find were not in this edition.
Rating:
Summary: Majestic Reading
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a revision of the original 1966 Jerusalem Bible, and is loosely based on the 1973 French La Bible de Jerusalem. Although a revision, the translators made this revision directly from the original texts, thus, the NJB differs substantially from the French version. However, when a Biblical text allows more than one interpretation, the NJB still follows the La Bible de Jerusalem. This translation also has abundant notes, various study aids and maps, and benefits from advances in linguistic and archaeological knowledge. In the NJB, the translators aimed to produce a Bible suitable for liturgical use and study. To this reviewer-in beauty and nobility of language-the translators have succeeded. Other than a few awkward renderings, no other modern version reads as beautifully. Compared with its predecessor, the NJB's text is loftier, more literal, and less colloquial. Also, this version uses gender-neutral language in most places where the text calls for it. The NJB is a Roman-Catholic translation and so contains the Apocrypha. In the NJB 1 John 3:17 reads: If anyone is well off in worldly possessions and see his brother in need but closes his heart to him, how can the love of God be remaining in him? (NJB) The NJB receives a C in accuracy and a B in readability.
Rating:
Summary: A very easy to read translation
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible is a very easy to read translation that contains the complete cannon of the Old Testament. The literary competence of the translators is evident. The standard edition is published in a two-column format, and does not contain the scholarly introductions, footnotes, and cross-references of the Regular Edition. It is an ideal compact, low-cost version of the translation.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended!
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible is an excellent version and I recommend it for all Christians. The translation is easy to read, yet can be quite poetic, scholarly, yet also for the layman. The notes that make up much of the Regular Edition (which I recommend over the others) are also quite academic and for the most part ecumenical, but remember, this is a Roman Catholic translation. Yahweh is used for the divine name instead of the more common LORD, which will sound strange to most ears. Overall, I highly recommend this Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Scriptural accuracy and readability in one version
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible is by far the easiest of all english versions to read and to understand while at the same time maintaining scriptural accuracy. It dares to restore the name of God to the text where other versions capitalize (About 5000 some-odd times) the word "LORD", furthering the Jewish and Christian superstition that THE NAME is too holy to utter. It transliterates the Hebrew word; "Sheol" in place of the misunderstood translations of grave, hell, and pit. The New Jerusalem Bible has been my favorite version for many years. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate to the ancient text in a readable form
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible is by far the easiest of the bibles to read. It retains none of the Elizabethian English found in so many translations, yet it maintains the full text in the most accurate form of all of the bibles available from book stores. This bible restores the name of God in the Old Testament where the Hebrew text contains the tetragram (Tetragramaton); YHWH.
According to the forward of the New American Standard Bible, God's name was omitted from such texts as the King James Bible and replaced by the capital letters LORD due to a Jewish superstition. I can't say enough good about this version.
Rating:
Summary: Love it!
Review: The New Jerusalem Bible is one of the best ever! Easy to read and beautifully translated. For the fella who said Catholics should read this bible then they'll give up Catholicism, well - this IS a Catholic bible. Most Catholics LOVE it! I sure do. For the fella who said NASB and KJV are better. Maybe if you're NOT Catholic, but they lack essential books and the books they do contain are missing key chapters. Book of Daniel Chapter 3 the NASB and KJV end at verse 30. New Jerusalem ends at verse 100. What possible reasoning could King James have for removing such text as:
57 "All things the Lord has made, bless the Lord!"
82 "Sons of men, bless the Lord, give glory and eternal praise to Him!"
100 "How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty, his empire lasts from age to age." The standard version is better than the reader's version of the New Jerusalem. The reader's version lacks notes and study material. Enjoy!
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