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My group and I have a free Christian app on the Android Market (we plan to extend this to Apple etc..) called ''Moodverse''. You simply enter your mood and it gives you a verse/ scripture matching that mood. As of now, we got two Bible versions integrated on the app, KJV and ASV (we couldn't use NIV, due to copyright issues). When it comes to the different versions of the bible, I always thought KJV and NIV were the most used versions but I'm getting different responses from people. The response seems to be linked to geographical location. For instance most Americans would go for ASV and so on.

My question is this, what version of the Bible would you all suggest we use for our app? Which is more preferable?

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I sympathize with the question, but there really is no right answer to this question. It's sort of a poll or opinion sort of thing. I'm voting to close since I don't see what use it will be to other users. For legal reasons, I'd stick to Public Domain – Jon Ericson Mar 9 '12 at 1:56
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As an aside, please try not to encourage people to take in the Bible as individual verses, isolated from their context. That's not how the Bible is helpful. – DJClayworth Mar 9 '12 at 15:51
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@Jess It isn't that it is necessarily a bad question, but because it is more of a poll than a matter of fact, it does not really fit into the format of the SE websites. – cwallenpoole Mar 9 '12 at 16:41
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I agree with @cwallenpoole. But I think you could edit the question to revive it, if you narrowed your requirements a bit. I asked two kinda related questions in which I had very tight requirements that anyone (in the know) could test any answers against. The word "best" was a tip-off to me that it was a question of opinion and not fact. – Jon Ericson Mar 9 '12 at 17:24
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As a question that polls other people's opinions, I agree that this needed to be closed as not constructive to the format of a SE site. Please understand that doesn't make it a bad question, just not the kind that SE tries to cater to. As an answer to your question, I would look into making your app use the open source sword project as a backend so that you can use any of the various Bible modules that they have already licensed for use. – Caleb♦ Mar 11 '12 at 0:31
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closed as not constructive by Jon Ericson, Affable Geek, hammar, David Stratton, warren Mar 9 '12 at 13:21

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3 Answers

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It depends on the point you are trying to make with any given verse.

For passages more than a verse or two, I would strongly suggest the New Living Translation. The style is flowing, and the research is pretty solid.

For the most common verses (e.g. John 3:16, 1 Cor 13, 1 Cor 10:13, Eph 2:8-9, Psalm 23, Psalm 51, etc...), I would stick with the KJV - not because the they're any "better," but because people will know them in those translations.

For smaller passages, I would recommend the ESV or the NRSV. For scholarly study, these are pretty much the gold standard. For public domain versions, I would look at the HCSB or the Net Bible which follow the same translation philosophy.

There is a webservice at http://api.biblia.com/docs/ that can get you several versions that are in the public domain. This is maintained by Logos.

If you are aiming at Roman Catholics, I would also suggest using the Doauy-Rheims bible or the New Jerusalem Bible, as those are translations that the church officially endorses.

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http://www.biblegateway.com gets around it somehow. I would like an app which allows me to see different versions or select the version that I prefer.

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hmmm that would be alot to put on one app .. but thats a good idea – Jess Mar 9 '12 at 5:14
Not if the app is getting it's versions as an xml file from a web That wouldn't be a lot to put in one app if the user gets to choose the version and it's downloaded when they choose it. Then it's just one included in the app at any given time. Some day soon, when everyone is connected always and the data fees are not an issue, you can have it simply pull verses from a web service somewhere. – David Stratton Mar 9 '12 at 13:13
It's an Android app, you have to assume that you're "connected". All the app is doing it picking out verses. I'd see if I can mesh with biblegateway, they may even have a webservice already available. Then it's just a matter of rendering the result. – user1054 Mar 9 '12 at 13:31
you might consider working with YouVersion or Blue Letter Bible, too – warren Mar 9 '12 at 13:31
I will pass this on to the group and see what they think about this. I really appreciate the response. Thanks a lot everyone :) – Jess Mar 9 '12 at 18:28
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I've seen a lot of NET (New English Translation) lately. It was produced with the specific purpose of making a modern (completed in 2005), royalty-free translation available to ministries for distribution. I know it is already included with several iOS bible apps.

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This is an excellent choice! It's important to note (heh) that the Notes may not be used in downloadable software and there are licencing restrictions for use in commercial products. (I think the OP would be safe, but IANAL!) – Jon Ericson Mar 9 '12 at 17:40

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