The Modern Language Bible

The Modern Language Bible (MLB) is a revision of the Berkeley Version. It is also known as the New Berkeley Version in Modern English.

The Berkeley Version was a project of a Dutch-born American by the name of Gerrit Verkuyl, who served for many years with the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church. He began work on his translation in 1936, publishing a translation of the NT in 1945. Zondervan Publishing House encouraged him to translate the OT as well. Under his supervision, a staff of 20 translators completed the work in 1959, publishing the collected work as the Berkeley Version in Modern English.

In 1969 the revised edition, known as the Modern Language Bible was published by Zondervan Publishing House, which had retained the rights of publication to the Berkeley Version.

The NT edition of the Modern Language Bible was based on the 8th edition of the Greek text of Tischendorf, although other texts were consulted. For the most part, the translators of the OT tried to remain true to the traditional Hebrew text, but they did not hesitate to correct or amend it when convinced that the text had suffered in translation.

The Modern Language Bible is a completely new translation, and not a revision of earlier versions. The translators endeavored to be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

As with the RSV, the text is divided into paragraphs, with the verse numbers provided in small superscript type. Many of the poetic passages in the OT are presented in poetic form, but Job, as well as many portions of poetic text in Isaiah, are printed as prose.

A distinctive feature of the Modern Language Bible is the capitalization of pronouns referring to Diety, a custom among many Christian churches.

Overall, the MLB is a simple, clear, and accurate translation, written in contemporary English. It is a useful tool to use in study, and in comparison with other versions of the Holy Bible.