Why you shouldn't read The Living Bible

Can you spot which verses these pics are referring to?

For today's article we are going to be taking a look at the Living Bible, or so it's called. If it's called thus, why is there a NLT? Anyway this is a paraphrase by Kenneth Taylor that was published in 1971. I'm not saying anyone is a Non-Christian for reading this or any translation for that matter; I just want to issue a warning that many bibles have some very serious changes to the texts which could lead to someone being led away or believing some false doctrine. In this example, I would say a paraphrase shouldn't be your regular study bible, If you don't like the KJV, then I would at least suggest a more literal word-for-word translation.

As usual I will be quoting the KJV in blue and quoting the living bible in red.

Gen 18:15  Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. 
Genesis 18:15 removed ...And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.  

I guess since this is a paraphrase this will be expected. Still removing from the bible is a serious crime see Deut 4:2.

Gen 19:5  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 

Gen 19:5 "...rape them." (TLB)
You lose a little bit of the meaning by changing know to rape, as this implies that the abomination of Sodom wasn't lying with the same gender consensual or otherwise. 

Gen 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. 

Gen 30:27 "...fortune-teller that I consulted..."  (TLB)

These are two different ways to find something out, one is obviously wrong. 

Lev 18:23  Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 
Leviticus 18:23 "...female animal...male animal..."   (TLB)
Doesn't condemn lying with the same gender animal. Why the unnecessary addition of female and male? 

Num 5:19  And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: 
Numbers 5:19 "...require her to swear that she is innocent..." (TLB)
So the priest is causing her to sin by lying if she was guilty of adultery? 

Deu 5:11  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Deuteronomy 5:11 "...never use my name to make a vow you don't intend to keep..." (TLB)
As if that is the only way to take God's name in vain. When you say OMG or say Jesus out of frustration that is also taking his name in vain. 

Deu 12:9  For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. 
Deu 12:9 "... these laws don't go into effect until you arrive in the place of rest..."   (TLB)
Then why was Israel punished for breaking the ten commandments while they wandered in the wilderness?(see Exo 32, Lev. 24:10-23, Num. 15:32-36)

Deu 18:10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:10 "...black magic..."  (TLB)
(Both black and "white" magic are sinful).

Jdg 12:12  And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

Jdg 12:12 removed And Elon the Zebulonite died,
Was he buried alive?

Jdg 16:28  And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 

Jdg 16:28 "...at least one of my eyes."   (TLB)
Samson prayed to be avenged for both of his eyes.

Jdg 19:2  And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. 

Jdg 19:2 "...she became angry with him..." (TLB)
This is what we call adding to the text. 

Rth 2:7  And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 

Ruth 2:7 "...rest over there in the shade." (TLB)
Being in the shade doesn't necessarily equate to being inside an house. 

2Sa 13:18  And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 

2 Samuel 13:18 "...long robe with sleeves..." (TLB)
That doesn't mention the diverse colors of the garment.

Ezr 1:9  And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

Ezra 1:9 "...1,000 gold trays...29 censers..."  (TLB)

Different amount of gold things and different type of items.

Ezr 1:10  Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

Ezra 1:10 "...2,410..."(TLB)
Let's just add 2,000.

Neh 2:13  And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 

Nehemiah 2:13 "...Jackal's well..."(TLB)
Unlike newer bibles I am not ashamed to call them dragons, one reason for this is because of the overwhelming evidence that dinosaurs lived with man. 

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 

Proverbs 6:16 "...no, seven:..."(TLB)
So the previous verse was an error?

Pro 10:22  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 

Pro 10:22 "...All our work adds nothing to it!"(TLB)
Different text and meaning!

Pro 10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 

Pro  10:27 "...adds hours to each day..."(TLB)
That's a lie the righteous still experience the same 24 hr day as the wicked, it's just that the wicked's life is shortened see also Psa 55:23. 

Pro 13:21  Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 

Pro 13:21 "...blessings chase the righteous!"  (TLB)
Who run's from blessings?

Pro 13:25  The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Pro 13:25 "...good man eats to live...evil man lives to eat."(TLB)
A change in meaning. 

Pro 16:27  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 

Pro 16:27 "Idle hands are the devil's workshop;..."  (TLB)
This is a popular saying but is this supposed to be in here?

Pro 17:8  A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 

Pro 17:8 "A bribe works like magic...uses it will prosper!"(TLB)
So this bible endorses sin? Both bribes and magic are evil.

Pro 23:33  Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Pro 23:33 "...see hallucinations and have delirium tremens..."(TLB)
Another change in meaning as well as text.

Pro 30:31  A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 

Pro 30:31 "...peacock..."(TLB)
Different Animal. I wonder where they get their data.

Ecc 3:12  I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12 "...be happy and...enjoy himself..."(TLB)
The meaning of this verse seems to me to be a little more self- centered than the KJV. 

Ecc 6:2  A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 

Ecc 6:2 "...a serious fault."(TLB)

Is it just me or does the wise king Solomon charge God with wrong in this Verse?

Ecc 11:10  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. 

Ecc 11:10 "...youth...life before it, can make serious mistakes."(TLB)
Where did they come up with this reading?!?

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 

Daniel 7:13 "...a Man..." (TLB)

(A change in one of Jesus' titles). The title Son of Man is mentioned quite often in the gospels. 
Mat_12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Mat_17:9  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mat_20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

Mar_10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mar_14:21  The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Luk_7:34  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Joh_3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Joh_3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh_6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Dan 12:1 "...will endure it." (TLB)

I belief this translation of the verse is incorrect because I personally am a Pre-tribber.

Hos 7:16  They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. 

Hos 7:16 "They look every where except to heaven,..."(TLB)
Israel worshiped the host of heaven (Deut. 4:15-19).

Amo 2:7  That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name: 
Amos 2:7 "...temple girl..."(TLB)

Jon 3:8  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 
Jonah 3:8 "Everyone must wear sackcloth..."(TLB)
What about the animals?

Nah 1:3  The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:3 "...he does not easily forgive..."(TLB)
It's not that God doesn't easily forgive it's just that his forgiveness is conditional on whether or not we ask for it (1Joh 1:9), whether we forgive others (Mat 6:14-15), etc. 

Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden. 
Galatians 6:5 "...For none of us is perfect!(TLB)
Check out my A-Z section under P. 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
Ephesians 2:2 "...mighty prince..."(TLB)
Complimenting the devil? Hmmmm.

Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 
Eph 4:27 "for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil."(TLB)
That's not always true (Num 25:1-11, Joh 2:15, Gal 2:11-14). 

2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 
2 Thessalonians 1:9 "...everlasting hell..."(TLB)

Hell is not everlasting! (see Rev. 20:14) death and hell are cast into the lake of fire.

2Ti 2:6  The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2 Tim 2:16 "...the sin of anger with each other."(TLB)
Anger is not a sin (Eph 4:26). Anger can be an appropriate response to evil. We should be angry when we witness things like child rape and sacrifice.

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 
2 Tim 3:5 "They will go to church..."(TLB)
Going to church doesn't necessarily = a form of godliness. There are multitudes of the ungodly that attend church, their hypocrisy is why many reject Jesus.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Hebrews 10:26 "...sins deliberately by rejecting the Savior..."(TLB)

I can see how this change could be used to justify hyper grace doctrine; which is the doctrine that all you have to do to be saved is just believe, no change in lifestyle is required.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

James 1:19 "...not become angry;"(TLB)
Again...it's ok to be angry with a cause (Mat 5:22).

Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Jam 1:26 "...religion isn't worth much."(TLB)
The meaning of vain is worthless, empty, and having no value/importance. 

1Pe 5:14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

1 Peter 5:14 "...handshake of christian love..."(TLB)
A handshake and a kiss are two different things.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 

2 Peter 1:3 "...he even shares his own glory..."(TLB)
(Nope! see Isaiah 42:8)  "Isa 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 

Revelation 1:4 "...churches in Turkey..."   (TLB)

Asia is a much bigger place than Turkey.

Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 

Rev 5:3 "...permitted to open..."(TLB)
Not being able and not being permitted are different meanings.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Rev 11:8 "...their Lord..."   (TLB)

Hmmmm....

Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Rev 11:9 "...will crowd around to gaze at..."(TLB)
Seems to me that this changes removes the wow factor that people living in other countries could see this event through the news and modern media.  

Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 
Rev 13:17 "...no one could get a job..."  (TLB)
You don't need a Job to buy or sell, e.g hey bro got $5. In his defense he does mention buying in the passage but he doesn't mention selling. 

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 
Rev 14:1 adds "...his Name..."(TLB)

I would caution anyone who adds to the bible, specifically in the Last book. Revelation 22 has a very serious admonition for those that would. "Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:" 

So in conclusion we see that their are many problems with the Living Bible, while it's true it is a paraphrase so we can expect there to be differences from a more literal word for word translation; it is no excuse for propagating lies such as we see in multiple verses in this so called bible. My recommendation, get a KJV. 

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