Genesis 1- It's always nice to begin at the beginning, so let's see how the MEV looks on the first page...
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.
Psalm 23- I can't help it. I know it's the stereotypical Bible passage to memorize, but I like to see how different translations handle the language in this psalm.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Isaiah 7:14- I know a conservative translation is going to retain the Septuagint's parthenos instead of the Masoretic almah, maybe with a footnote, but probably not. Let's see...
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. [footnote reads: "Heb. young woman"]
John 1:1-5- The Prologue to John's Gospel is one passage that I always look at. I like to see how they handle the grammar. The MEV looks pretty similar to most translations in the KJV family.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was created that was created.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.
Matthew 6:9-13- The Lord's Prayer. This is basic updated KJV.
9 Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come;a Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
1 John 5:7- Oh snap! MEV translators apparently decided if the Comma Johanneum was good enough for KJV and NKJV, they were sticking with it, despite the well known lack of textual support for the passage. Look at this...
There are three who testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and the three are one.
Well, that's just a few of my personal favorite passages to look up in any new translation. I think the MEV does pretty well with all of them, except for the Comma Johanneum. I just can't understand why they wouldn't even include a footnote, as they did on the Isaiah virgin birth passage. It seems a bit stubborn to me to take that kind of stance.
I'll try to research the MEV a little more thoroughly in the near future. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below...