Hooray for the NAB!  This is the closest translation to what is read at Mass and comes in many, many versions for specialty groups:  NAB for teens, giant print NAB, NAB for women’s Bible studies, NAB study Bible, that cute little NAB with the leather cover that zips closed so I can dump it into my tote bag when I travel … and the list goes on.  All are the same Scripture text, with different additional features (footnotes, supplemental pages, etc.) for different audiences.

One important note on the NAB is that you’ll want to make sure you’re getting a Catholic version with all 73 of the books included.

• Title: New American Bible (the red one pictured above)
• Publisher: World Catholic Press
• Full Text or Bible Stories
• Protestant, Catholic, Good for Either
• Recommended Ages: Teens and adults
• Pros:
  • Closest to the translation read at Mass
  • Cheap (I got some on sale for $5)
  • Perfect if you want to buy in bulk or give away copies of Scripture
  • Trustworthy footnotes
• Cons:
  • Very mediocre construction – paperback with thin, kind of newsprint pages

• Title: Catholic Teen Bible (top, center)
• Publisher: Life Teen
• Full Text or Bible Stories
• Protestant, Catholic, Good for Either
• Recommended Ages: Teens 
• Pros:
  • Closest to the translation read at Mass
  • Glossy pages at the beginning and end with lots of great information about the Old and New Testament, why and how to read Scripture, cultural differences (now and then), etc.
  • “Tabs” printed on the page edges
  • Bits of classic art incorporated in the info pages.
  • The overall vibe is serious – not cartoony at all.  I like it!

• Title: Catholic Youth Bible (top, right)
• Publisher: Saint Mary’s Press
• Full Text or Bible Stories
• Protestant, Catholic, Good for Either
• Recommended Ages: Teens 
• Pros:
  • Closest to the translation read at Mass
  • Attractive design features
  • “Tabs” printed on the page edges
  • Lots of reflection questions and extra information on the major sections (how to pray with the Psalms, etc.)
  • Places to doodle or take notes

• Title: Fireside Catholic Youth Bible (bottom, right in the photo at the top)
• Publisher: Fireside Catholic Publishing
• Full Text or Bible Stories
• Protestant, Catholic, Good for Either
• Recommended Ages: Teens 
• Pros:
  • Closest to the translation read at Mass
  • “Tabs” printed on the page edges
  • This is the Bible our priest has chosen to give to RCIA teens.
  • Lots of reflection questions and extra information on the major sections.  See all those colored page edges on the photo just below?  Those are all special topical sections relevant to the nearby scriptures.

• Title: The Student Bible for Catholics (bottom, left in the pic at the top)
• Publisher: Thomas A Nelson
• Full Text or Bible Stories
• Protestant, Catholic, Good for Either
• Recommended Ages: Teens 
• Pros:
  • Exactly like the red one above, but with a different cover.
  • As you can see by the sticker, we use a lot of those around here for youth group, VBS, etc.