I just put in a pre-order for a new Bible translation coming out in September. Yeah, I know...do we really need another English Bible? The Modern English Version (MEV) purports to be "clear, reverent, and accurate." I have to admit, translations that claim to be "reverent" always make me wary. I don't know that the original languages of Scripture were particularly reverent. I guess it depends on how you define the term. If by reverent we mean a formal "Biblish" kind of English, then I think that's an artificial way to approach the language. On the other hand, if we mean a reverence for the scriptures as the Word of God, then that seems appropriate. In that case, though, I think you would be hard pressed to find an English translation that wasn't reverent. I mean, the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation, as misguided as it is, is still reverent.
The MEV's website has a Comparison page, putting some verses of the MEV alongside the KJV, NKJV, NIV and ESV. Just glancing at the verses on the chart, it reads a lot like any other version in the King James tradition. I look forward to seeing more of the version, especially since the website isn't particularly helpful. They have a few endorsements, and a couple nicely produced videos, but no information on who is on the translation team, or what their methodology is. The Home page claims that the MEV is "a literal word-for-word translation," which is certainly not true. A literal word-for-word translation would be almost unreadable, as you can easily see from any interlinear Bible. They go on to call it a "formal correspondence translation," which is just another term for formal equivalence. Their New Testament is based on the Textus Receptus, so it should be interesting to see how that works out: will they keep the Comma Johanneum in the text, and the longer ending of Mark, for example? I imagine so. They do offer a sample of Ephesians for perusal. I shall report more fully on the MEV when I receive my copy in a few months.
Thanks for reading.