CHURCH OF ENGLAND
Versions of the Bible and of the Psalms
In the case of the forms of service contained in The Book of Common Prayer, if a portion of scripture is 'set out and appointed to be read, said or sung' (i.e. if the text of the lection itself is reproduced, as for example the Epistle and Gospel at the Holy Communion) the Authorized Version of the Bible and the Psalter in The Book of Common Prayer are to be used. However, by virtue of the Prayer Book (Versions of the Bible) Measure 1965, it is also permitted (with the agreement of the parochial church council) to use the following:


Revised Version

Jerusalem Bible

Revised Standard Version New English Bible

Good News Bible (Today's English Version)

The Revised Psalter

The Liturgical Psalter (The Psalms: A New Translation for Worship)

If The Book of Common Prayer simply prescribes a portion of scripture to be used, but does not set it out (e.g. in the tables of lessons), any version of the Bible which has not been prohibited by lawful authority may be used.

So far as Common Worship services are concerned, while the lectionary is based on the New Revised Standard Version, any version of the Bible which has not been prohibited by lawful authority my again be used.

Currently, no version of the Bible has been prohibited by lawful authority.



GOSPEL IN VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS



ENGLISH REVISION (of the KJV, 1881)
Perhaps too difficult to understand, which would be a pity, since this Sunday is about hearing!


GOSPEL: Mark 7:24-37
And from thence he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it: and he could not be hid. But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord: even the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the devil gone out.
And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.



JERUSALEM BIBLE (1966)
The daughter of the Syrophoenician woman healed
24 He left that place and set out for the territory of Tyre. There he went into
a house and did not want anyone to know he was there but he could not pass
25 unrecognized. ·A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spiri t heard about
26 him straightaway and came and fell at his feet. ·Now the woman was a pagan,
by birth a Syrophoenician, and she begged him to cast the devil out of her
27 daughter. ·And he said to her, "The children should be fed first, because it is not
28 fair to take the children's food and throw it to the house dogs." ·But she spoke
up: "Ah yes, sir," she replied, "but the house dogs under the table can eat the
29 children's scraps." ·And he said to her, "For saying this, you may go home happy:
30 the devil has gone out of your daughter." ·So she went off to her home and found
the child lying on the bed and the devil gone.
Healing of the deaf man
3 1 Returning from the district of Tyre he went by way of Sidon toward the Sea
32 of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. ·And they brought him a deaf
man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on
33 him. ·He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the
34 man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. ·Then looking up to heaven he
35 sighed; and he said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened. " ·And his ears were
opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly.
36 And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the
37 more widely they published it. ·Their admiration was unbounded. "He has done
all things well," they said, "he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."


GOOD NEWS BIBLE (especially good for masses with children)
24 Then Jesus left and went away to the territory near the city of Tyre. He went into a house and did not want anyone to know he was there, but he could not stay hidden. 25 A woman, whose daughter had an evil spirit in her, heard about Jesus and came to him at once and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Gentile, born in the region of Phoenicia in Syria. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus answered, "Let us first feed the children. It isn't right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28 "Sir," she answered, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's leftovers!" 29 So Jesus said to her, "Because of that answer, go back home, where you will find that the demon has gone out of your daughter!" 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed; the demon had indeed gone out of her. 31 Jesus then left the neighborhood of Tyre and went on through Sidon to Lake Galilee, going by way of the territory of the Ten Towns. 32 Some people brought him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged Jesus to place his hands on him. 33 So Jesus took him off alone, away from the crowd, put his fingers in the man's ears, spat, and touched the man's tongue. 34 Then Jesus looked up to heaven, gave a deep groan, and said to the man, ["Ephphatha,"] which means, "Open up!" 35 At once the man was able to hear, his speech impediment was removed, and he began to talk without any trouble. 36 Then Jesus ordered the people not to speak of it to anyone; but the more he ordered them not to, the more they told it. 37 And all who heard were completely amazed. "How well he does everything!" they exclaimed. "He even causes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak!"

REVISED STANDARD VERSION
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. 25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoeni'cian by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." 30 And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone. 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. 33 And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."


NRSV
Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”