New version: Spoken English New Testament (SENT)

The Britsh-born translator, J. Webb Mealy (PhD in Biblical Studies), writes on his website --

Here are the powerful, life-changing words of Jesus and his apostles, rendered in language that is just simple and normal. SENT achieves exceptionally high levels of accuracy and faithfulness as a translation, but without sounding old-fashioned or “churchy”. And it’s totally accessible and readable, without trying to sound “hip” or folksy. Get ready for a treat—this is a New Testament that you are going to thoroughly enjoy reading. And not only that—you’re going to come away from nearly every reading experience with new depth of insight and understanding. ​

It can be read online or hardcopy ordered at --
http://www.sentpress.com/

 

John 1:1-5 (SENT)

In the beginning, was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.a 2 This Word existed in the beginning with God. 3 Everything came to be through the Word- and without the Word not even one thing came to be. What came to be in the Word b was Life.c 4 And Life was the light of human beings. 5 The light's shining in the dark, and the dark hasn't understood d it.

a Or "the word was divine."
b Some mss have "... and without the Word not even one thing came to be that has come to be. In the Word was Life..."
c I capitalize "Life" because I think that John is referring to what we call "life itself" (compare to the common capitaization of "the Universe")
d Or "overcome."
​