Interesting idea! I suppose if you're motivated to read it, and it's Japanese, then it's all good. The only drawback might be if there is archaic language in it (e.g. "begat" or words along those lines) you might end up sounding ancient

If you're reading it at home and you can have two volumes opened at the same passage, you can easily consult the English (or French, what's your first language?) translation because each verse is numbered making the two easy to match up.

So if you already have an English Bible then all you need is the Japanese one.

If you want to read it on the train or something, it might be more convenient to have a combined one because then you only need one volume opened, but then it depends on how much you want to pay for convenience.

The other point to consider is how fluent you are. Reading the word of God does take concentration. If you'll be struggling to understand the Japanese, it could perhaps detract from that.

I had a friend mention that Japanese Bibles read like King James--that is, a lot of archaic terms and stuff worded in very non-conversational ways. When I was in Japan I did find a greatly condensed (but still quite thick) manga Bible that seemed a lot easier on the language. Might want to track one of those down instead, as the pictures help with the context, and the narratives are simplified somewhat.

The Japanese bible is useless to a beginning student. As a translated work, the Japanese is not natural (en-jp translation norm is to make the translation close to the source language in structure, resulting in a form of Japlish). Aside from that, it is grammar and vocabulary you won't encounter much of in real life. Use it as reading practice if you must, just don't learn from it (or any other translated work). Imagine a Japanese student trying to learn good English by studying the King James bible... As an aside, that is also why the King James bible reads so poorly - anyone who tried to translate the bible into natural language (thus changing the sentence structure from the source latin & greek) was executed for heresy (generally burnt at the stake with a fire made from their own books).

On the plus side you can get a copy free from any missionaries trying to spread their cancer. I got a free hardcover copy of the new testament from some society to potentially use in a study in my courses (I study Japanese <-> English translation theory as part of my major). I wish it was the old testament instead, it's like an action movie to the new testament's date movie.

Last edited by Jarvik7 (2008 September 03, 3:35 pm)

Yeah, just google it and see what you think of it, and if you need the bilingual version or not. For the record, at least the version I poked my head into was anything but archaic. I can't speak much for the naturalness (I noticed it straying wildly from the English to sound better, though I would say it still had a 'bible tone'), but I found it pretty easy to read - given you know a modicum of keigo as well as the most casual language, because of course most of the language referring to God can be moderately honorific, while the language he uses is... not

Last edited by QuackingShoe (2008 September 03, 6:52 pm)

Despite a lot of looking, I've never really found a version that I've consistently found to be the easiest to understand.  Usually I try looking at a few different versions, though I don't have all of them with furigana.  There are so many odd readings it's not funny.  A lot of readings are キリスト教 specific, such as 礼拝（れいはい vs らいはい).

The keigo is interesting, and it varies a lot from translation to translation.  For instance, Genesis 1:3:

新改訳　そのとき、神が「光よ。あれ。」と仰せられた。すると光ができた。
口語訳　神は「光あれ」と言われた。すると光があった。

In addition to the use of 仰せられる vs 言われる fact that one chose は and another chose が is rather interesting.

hknamida: The typical word for the Bible is 聖書（せいしょ）.

plumage wrote:

C'mon now, that was completely uncalled for amidst a post with some decent information. Have some common decency towards your fellow RTK'ers.

Sorry, I don't have to pander to other people's beliefs. My post also had quite a bit of useful information in it I think.

Just because it's religion, doesn't mean it's immune to anybody saying anything bad about it. Deal with it.

With that said, this thread needs to be closed down before it becomes a holy war.

偶然、、 I was walking through the East Asian studies office wing earlier today and there was a box of old Japanese bibles free for the taking, both old and new testament.

Haven't been back in ages, so ignoring all the commotion, I just wanted to report that I got the Japanese Bible. It's $40 cheaper than the bilingual plus it had furigana and it's a lot smaller and lighter.

I read about 4 chapters per day, I would read 3 chapters in English and read one in Japanese. I usually read the chapter that I'm already familiar with in Japanese.

I'm really happy that my kanji learning has helped me a lot to get the meanings of words.

I'm surprised with how fast I am able to read now. Most of the sentences can't be used for everyday conversation but might be helpful in translating dramas down the road.

The アニメバイブル sounds interesting enough.

I'm sort of surprised that one would have to buy the thing, though - since as someone mentioned, those things are generally given away for free. Hotels are usually a good place to score (hah) free Bibles - probably Idaho is a bad idea, but who knows, if you're near a Little Tokyo or something, maybe a polite phone call to the front desk of a hotel that has a lot of Japanese patrons would get you some results?

I say this because I remember being in Hawaii once and finding a bilingual copy (left page 和, right page 英) of some Teachings of Buddha or something, which I took the liberty of liberating. There was a Bible, but I wasn't interested so I don't remember the language. Different book/situation, but who knows. A little 工夫 goes a long way in these situations.

I don't know, there's just something about paying to receive the good lord's word - whatever your motive - that strikes me as wrong - or at least unneccessary.

Or actually, yes, wrong.

I agree.
And there are organisations that distribute them to people for free. I have gotten the New Testament for free and dozen languages and really don't travel so much! Just attended a confference on missions work once or twice! The Japanese ones I got from missionaries in Japan.

If you want a free Bible, it shouldn't be too hard to find it, but the quality of the print often is lower. A real good show off Bible with leather covers and everything can cost some honey but also will probably last for a lifetime..

My dream is to get a big one in Japanese!
Easy to read, stays open on the desk, etc.

I only have the NT in various pocket size versions and the アニメバイブル is the only one that I don't need a magnifying glass to read.. >.<

Last edited by alantin (2008 September 25, 7:59 am)