On Protestant influenced Catholic Bibles

Since my religious conversion, one thing I have been sure to do, is comparing different versions of the Bible.   Protestant bibles (like all translations), have their pros and cons.  One pro that they have, is there is sometimes a demand for a Catholic version of Protestant bibles.   Of course, the most well-known English bibles in the United States, tend to be Protestant, what with the United States being mostly (and historically) a Protestant country.  Protestant bibles (like all translations), have their pros and cons.  One pro that they have, is there is sometimes a demand for a Catholic version of Protestant bibles.   The versions of the Bible that I own that are of Protestant origin or influence (but are Catholic Bibles, in some sense of the word), are the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (this one being the second edition, though, I am familiar with the first edition), the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, the English Standard Version Catholic edition, and the King James Bible for Catholics.   Of course, there are things I don’t like about these versions, and things I do like.  As well respected as the RSVCE is among many Catholic apologists, I’ve noticed a lack of cross references to the deuterocanonical books (the same is also true of the ESVCE, although, I think my NRSVCE doesn’t have any cross references, though, I may be mistaken).  Extremely confusing to me, is why my King James Bible for Catholics doesn’t have any cross references, given that KJV bibles were traditionally replete with them  (including to the so-called “Apocrypha”).   Now, my main concern is with how a text flows, not so much with translator bias (all translations have biases), but, for a comparison, let’s take a look at a couple of verses from the deuterocanonical books.  I will start with the King James Version (as, after the Douay Rheims version, it is the oldest bible I own), I am not going to do whole passages, as that would take too long.  But, we will start with 2 Maccabees 44-45: “For if he had not hoped that they that were slain in battle should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.  And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought.  Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.” Now, we will go on to the NRSVCE, as it was the first Catholic Bible I owned.  “For if he were not expecting those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.  But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid upon for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.  Therefore, he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin”.   So, from there, we go on to the RSVCE., “For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.  But if he were looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.  Therefore, he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin”.   From the ESVCE, “For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.  But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fell asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.  Therefore, he made atonement for the dead that they might be delivered from their sin.” I also want to compare these different version from a passage in the Book of Tobit, as I feel this is where Luther really disliked the deuterocanonical books (though, contrary to popular belief, he did have them in his German translation).  As I don’t have a Luther Bible on hand (and this post is in English), we’ll start with the KJV.  Tobit, 12:7-9. “It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but it is honourable to reveal the works of God.  Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you.  Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness.  A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness.  It is better to give alms than to lay up gold.  For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin.” From the NRSVCE, “It is good to conceal the secret of a king, but to acknowledge and reveal the works of God, and with fitting honor to acknowledge him.  Do good, and evil will not overtake you.  Prayer and fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness, a little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing.  It is better to give alms than to lay up gold.  For almsgiving saves from death, and purges away every sin.  Those who give alms will enjoy a full life”.   From the RSVCE, “It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God, and with fitting honor to acknowledge him.  Do good, and evil will not over-take you.  Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness.  A little righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing.  It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold.  For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin.  Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life”.  And, finally, from the ESVCE, which, I am not as familiar with as with the other versions, as I have only read (all the way through) the first four books of Moses, and am currently reading the fifth.  (I have read the Bible all the way through in the RSVCE 2nd, edition, however).  Anyway, like I said, from the ESVCE “Practicing mercy delivers from death, and it purges away every sin.  Those who do deeds of mercy will have full satisfaction from life”.   There are more to these verses, but, I’d like you to read them on your own, with regards to the ESVCE, I do like that it sounds a bit different than the other versions I have shared here, but, I am not too terribly fond of that translation.  It feels like it leaves something out.  That said, the passage from 2 Maccabees, I am happy to say, is pretty in line with how I think it should read in each version.   I love talking about the Bible, and I hope to do that more.  I am not a scholar, just a layman that loves the written Word of God, and I hope to share that love with you, as well. Works used: King James Version, no copyright in the United States.  New Revised Standard Version Bible, Catholic Edition, copyright 1993, and 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Revised Standard Version Bible, Ignatius Edition, Copyright 2006, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  ESV Catholic Edition with Deuterocanonical Books, Copyright 2017 by Crossway.