Comparing the 1996 NIrV With The 2013 Edition

First of all, the 1996 edition has some unusually long sentences. I have only been comparing the books of James and Galatians, but have come across a handful of sentences which contain 18-20 words. The newer versions tries to keep sentences in the range of the low teens or less --13 seems to be their average.

The older one keeps using "those who aren't Jews" or "non-Jews." The newer one simply uses Gentiles.
The words circumcise and circumcision are used in both editions. The word "guardian" is used only in the 1996 version, but "other people are in charge of the children" is used in the 2013 edition. That's a puzzling inconsistency.

Anyway, we'll start with the book of James using my famous snippets. For the 1996 version I will use the designation OLD, and for the 2013 version --NEW.

1:14
OLD : But your own evil longings tempt you. They lead you on and drag you away.
NEW : But each person is tempted by their own evil desires. These desires lead them on and drag them away.

1:15
OLD : When they are allowed to grow, they give birth to sin. When sin has grown up, it gives birth to death.
NEW : When those desires are allowed to remain, they lead to sin. And when sin is allowed to remain and grow, it leads to death.

1:18
OLD : He wanted us to be the first and best of everything he created.
NEW : He wanted us to be the first harvest of his new creation.

1:26
OLD : Suppose you think your beliefs are right because of how you live.
NEW : Suppose people think their beliefs and how they live are both right.

2:6
OLD : But you have put down poor people.
NEW : But you have disrespected poor people.

2:18
OLD : Show me your faith that doesn't do good works.
NEW : Show me your faith that doesn't cause you to do good works.

4:1
OLD : Isn't it because of your sinful longings? They fight inside you.
NEW : Isn't it because of your sinful desires? They fight within you.

 

Continuing in James:

4:9
OLD : Change your laughter to crying.
NEW : Change your laughter to mourning.

4:10
OLD : Bow down to the Lord.
NEW : Be humble in front of the Lord.

4:16
OLD : As it is, you are proud. You brag about it.
NEW : As it is, you brag. You brag about the evil plans your pride produces.

5:12
OLD : don't take an oath when you make a promise
NEW : here is what is important. Don't make a promise by giving your word.

5:17
OLD : Elijah was just like us.
NEW : Elijah was a human being, just as we are.

5:20
OLD : Those who turn sinners from going down the wrong path.
NEW : Anyone who keeps a sinner from going astray.

 

Galatians

1:8
Old : Let that person be judged by God forever.
New : Let anyone who does that be cursed by God.

1:16
Old : I didn't talk with anyone.
New : I decided right away not to ask anyone for advice.

2:2
Old : But I spoke in private to those who seemed to be leaders. I was afraid that I was running or had run my race for nothing.
New : I spoke in private to those who are respected as leaders. I wanted to be sure I wasn't running my race for no purpose.

2:5
Old : We wanted the truth of the good news to remain with you.
New : We did this so that the truth of the good news would be kept safe for you.

2:6
Old : God does not judge by what he sees on the outside.
New : God does not treat people differently.

 

Continuing with Galatians

3:4
Old : Have you suffered so much for nothing?
New : Have you experienced so much for nothing?

3:20
Old : A go-between does not take sides.
New : A go-between means that there is more than one side to an agreement.

3:22
Old : But Scripture announces that the whole world is a prisoner because of sin.
New : But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin.

3:23
Old : we were held prisoners by the law
New : we were guarded by the law

4:2
Old : under the care of guardians
New : other people are in charge of the children

4:3
Old : we were slaves to the basic things the people of the world believe
New : we were slaves to the basic spiritual powers of the world

4:9
Old : why are you turning back to those weak and worthless beliefs?
New : why are you turning back to those weak and worthless powers?

4:14
Old : you didn't put me off
New : you weren't mean to me

4:15
Old : If you could have torn out your own eyes and given them to me, you would have.
New : Suppose you could have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. Then you would have done it.

4:20
Old : you bewilder me
New : I don't understand you

4:27
Old : Start shouting
New : Shout for joy and cry out loud.

 

Concluding Galatians

5:7
Old : Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
New : Who has kept you from obeying the truth?

5:16
Old : Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants you to do.
New : Then you will not do what your desires controlled by sin want you to do.

6:1
Old : guided by the Spirit
New : live by the spirit

6:2
Old : you will give the law of Christ its full meaning
New : you will fulfill the law of Christ

6:10
Old : Let us make a special point
New : Let's try even harder

6:12
Old : Some people want others to think well of them
New : Some people are worried about how things look on the outside

6:15
Old : What really counts is the creation of a new nature.
New : What really counts is that the new creation has come.

 

So, what passages are rendered better in one or the other? Why?

 

Romans

1:12
Old : I want to us to cheer each other up
New : I want us to encourage one another

2:4
Old : Do you make fun of God
New : Do you disrespect God

2:20
Old : You can even teach children.
New : You act like you're teaching little children,

5:5
Old : And hope will never let us down
New : And hope will never bring us shame.

8:1
Old : Those who belong to Christ Jesus are longer under God's sentence.
New: Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God's judgment.

8:20
Old : The created world was bound to fail.
New : The created world was held back from fulfilling its purpose.

 

Romans

12:11
Old : Never let the fire in your heart go out
New : Stay excited about your faith

13:11
Old : Our full salvation is closer now than it was when we first believed in Christ.
New : The full effects of our salvation are closer now than when we first believed in Christ.

 

I'm just informing the public.

Do you have an interest in the thread?