Listed below is the abbreviation for each version, the full name of the version, the date originally published, optionally the date last updated, and the reading grade level (RL). A reading level of 11 means the reader should have the same reading skills as an average 11^th grade reader, otherwise trying to read the version may cause the reader to become frustrated.

 

NASB+ –  Updated New American Standard Bible (1971, 1995; RL = 11)

AMP – Amplified (1964, 1987; RL = N/A)

ESV – English Standard Version (2001; RL = 8.0)

RSV – Revised Standard Version (1946 NT, 1952 OT; RL = N/A)

KJV – King James Version (1611; RL = 12)

NKJV – New King James Version (1982; RL = 8)

HCSB – Holman Christian Standard Bible (2000; RL = N/A)

NRSV – New Revised Standard Version (1990; RL = 10.4)

NAB – New American Bible [Catholic version] (1970; RL = 6.6)

NJB – New Jerusalem Bible (1966, ?; RL = 7.4)      

NIV – New International Version (1978; RL = 7.8)

TNIV – Today’s New International Version (2001 NT, 2005 OT; RL = N/A)

NLT – New Living Translation (1996; RL = 6.3)

NIrV – New International Reader’s Version (1994, 1998; RL = 2.9)

GNT – Good News Translation, formerly Today’s English Version and Good News

            Bible (1976; RL = 6.0)

CEV – Contemporary English Version (1995; RL = 5.4)     

Living – The Living Bible (1962 NT Epistles, 1971 Entire Bible; RL = 8.3)

Message – The Message (1993 NT, 2002 OT; RL = 4.8)