New American Bible

The New American Bible was the first complete American Catholic Bible translated broadly from the original languages under modern Catholic norms, marking a shift away from the long-standing reliance on the Latin Vulgate that had shaped earlier English Catholic versions. Encompassing the complete Catholic canon, it was rendered from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, with original-language critical texts serving as its base. Its translators followed a moderate formal-dynamic philosophy, seeking a balance between close correspondence to the wording of the originals and readable English. The work is best categorized as a fresh translation that also completed the Confraternity project, which had served as its predecessor and base translation; in the event, it superseded much of that earlier undertaking. The version subsequently became the basis of U.S. Catholic lectionary work, giving it a broad presence in the liturgical and devotional life of American Catholicism.