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The following examples show how the Common English Bible compares to other widely used translations.
Genesis 1:1-2
Common English Bible (CEB)
When God began to create the heavens and the earth—the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters—
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
New International Version (NIV)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:11
Common English Bible (CEB)
God said, “Let the earth grow plant life: plants yielding seeds and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds inside it, each according to its kind throughout the earth.” And that’s what happened.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so.
New International Version (NIV)
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
Genesis 2:7
Common English Bible (CEB)
the Lord God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into his nostrils. The human came to life.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
New International Version (NIV)
the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:22-23
Common English Bible (CEB)
With the rib taken from the human, the Lord God fashioned a woman and brought her to the human being. The human said, "This one finally is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called a woman because from a man she was taken.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken."
New International Version (NIV)
Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman', for she was taken out of man."
Genesis 22:15-17
Common English Bible (CEB)
The Lord's messenger called out to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I give my word as the Lord
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord:
New International Version (NIV)
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord,
Genesis 26:3
Common English Bible (CEB)
Stay in this land as an immigrant, and … I will give all of these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep my word, which I gave to your father Abraham.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.
New International Version (NIV)
Stay in this land for a while, and …I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.
Leviticus 19:33-34
Common English Bible (CEB)
When immigrants live in your land with you, you must not cheat them. Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
New International Version (NIV)
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
Matthew 5:5
Common English Bible (CEB)
Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
New International Version (NIV)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:9
Common English Bible (CEB)
Happy are people who make peace, because they'll be called God's children.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
New International Version (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 6:9-13
Common English Bible (CEB)
Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
New International Version (NIV)
This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Matthew 10:23
Common English Bible (CEB)
Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One comes.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
New International Version (NIV)
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 15:1-6
Common English Bible (CEB)
Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why are your disciples breaking the elders' rules handed down to us? They don't wash their hands before they eat.“. . . 6 So you do away with God's Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat." …6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.
New International Version (NIV)
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? The don't wash their hands before they eat….Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Mark 6:12
Common English Bible (CEB)
So they went out and proclaimed that people should change their hearts and lives.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
New International Version (NIV)
They went out and preached that people should repent
Mark 7:20-23
Common English Bible (CEB)
"It's what comes out of a person that contaminates someone in God's sight," he said. "It's from the inside, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: sexual sins, thefts, murders, adultery, greed, evil actions, deceit, unrestrained immorality, envy, verbal insults, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evil things come from the inside and make a person unfit to stand before God."
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
"It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
New International Version (NIV)
"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Luke 17:3-4
Common English Bible (CEB)
Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them. Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, 'I am changing my ways,' you must forgive that person.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive."
New International Version (NIV)
So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him.
Romans 3:22-24
Common English Bible (CEB)
God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace, because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ* for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
New International Version (NIV)
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:2
Common English Bible (CEB)
Don't be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God's will is--what is good and pleasing and mature.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.
New International Version (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Galatians 5:17
Common English Bible (CEB)
I say be guided by the Spirit and you won't carry out your selfish desires.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
New International Version (NIV)
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
2 Timothy 2:15
Common English Bible (CEB)
Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried and true worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, but one who interprets the word of truth correctly.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
New International Version (NIV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Hebrews 12:12-13
Common English Bible (CEB)
So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
New International Version (NIV)
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Hebrews 13:6 (Psalm 118:6)
Common English Bible (CEB)
This is why we can confi dently say, The Lord is my helper, and I won’t be afraid. What can people do to me?
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"
New International Version (NIV)
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
James 5:15
Common English Bible (CEB)
Prayer that comes from faith will heal the sick, for the Lord will restore them to health.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
New International Version (NIV)
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.
Revelation 21:3-4
Common English Bible (CEB)
Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind….
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
See, the home of God is among mortals.
New International Version (NIV)
Now the dwelling of God is with men.