The Message (MSG) is a contemporary paraphrase that restates Scripture in lively, everyday English, while the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is a careful, formal translation produced for Catholic readers and used in the Lectionary for Mass in the United States. If you want to hear the familiar stories in fresh, conversational language and read them like a personal letter, the MSG may speak to you. If you want a faithful, scholarly text that you can study alongside Catholic tradition and footnotes, the NABRE is likely the better fit. Both are widely read, but they were built for quite different purposes.
Background
The Message was created by Eugene H. Peterson, a pastor and professor, who worked on it as a single-author project. Peterson’s aim was to render the biblical text in the idiom of ordinary speech so that readers could hear its meaning without the distance that older English can create. It has been published as a complete Bible since 2002 and is associated with a wide Protestant readership, though it is not an official translation of any single church body.
The NABRE is the work of many scholars under the auspices of the Catholic bishops of the United States. It is a revision of the earlier New American Bible, and it includes the books of the Catholic canon, among them Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and Sirach. Its revised edition was completed in the 2010s and gives the Psalms and the New Testament a fresh, more careful rendering than the first edition provided. It is published by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and carries the imprimatur that Catholic readers look for.
Translation Method
The MSG is a paraphrase. Peterson did not aim to render each Hebrew or Greek word into a matching English word. Instead he rewrote whole passages to capture the sense, rhythm, and tone of the original as he understood it, often turning long Greek sentences into short, punchy English ones. The result reads quickly and vividly, which is a real gift for someone who finds older English hard to follow, but it also means you are reading one interpreter’s restatement rather than a close equivalent of the wording.
The NABRE belongs to the more literal family of translations, sometimes described as dynamic equivalence with a strong commitment to the original forms. Its translators sought to keep close to the structure and vocabulary of the source languages while producing natural English. That makes it a reliable tool for close reading. When a phrase is difficult or a term carries theological weight, you can usually trace it back to the text with some confidence, and the notes help you see where scholars debate the meaning.
Reading Level and Style
The MSG is written in a warm, informal voice that sounds like a good storyteller talking across a kitchen table. Sentences are short, idioms are modern, and the vocabulary is simple. Many readers find that familiar passages suddenly feel new, which is exactly what the translator intended. The tone can also feel casual in places where the original is solemn, so some readers prefer to use it as a companion rather than as their only text.
The NABRE uses a more formal, measured English. It is accessible to an adult reader and clearly structured, but it does not try to sound like conversation. Its Psalms and wisdom books keep a poetic cadence, and its footnotes and introductions are written for careful study. For devotional reading and for teaching in a parish setting, that steadier style often serves well, especially when the passage is long or doctrinally dense.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
The NABRE renders this line in a formal, recognizable way that keeps the familiar shepherd image close to the Hebrew structure. The MSG, by contrast, restates the sense in a personal, conversational way, emphasizing the sense of being cared for rather than the exact wording. The two readings point to the same comfort, but one gives you the words as closely as English allows and the other gives you the feeling of the words in plain speech. Reading both side by side is a helpful way to notice what each translator chose to highlight.
Who Should Use It
Choose the MSG if you want a fresh, easy-to-read Bible for daily reflection, for reading with a younger family member, or for encountering familiar stories as if for the first time. Its limits are that it is not designed for detailed word study, and its paraphrase can blur distinctions that matter in the original languages. It works best as a supplement to a more literal text.
Choose the NABRE if you are Catholic, want a translation that matches the Mass readings and the canon of your church, or plan to study the text closely with notes and introductions. Its limits are that it reads more formally than some people prefer and is less vivid for casual browsing. Many readers keep the NABRE for study and the MSG for devotion, and that pairing can serve well.
Is The Message a complete Bible?
Yes, The Message covers the full Old and New Testaments in a single volume. Its paraphrase style applies throughout, so it reads as a continuous narrative rather than a set of separate translations. Many readers use it alongside a more literal version for study.
Why does the NABRE include extra books?
The NABRE follows the Catholic canon, which includes books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, and portions of Esther and Daniel that are not part of most Protestant Bibles. These books are recognized as Scripture in Catholic tradition. Their inclusion reflects the church that sponsored the translation.
Can I use the MSG for serious Bible study?
You can use it to gain a fresh overview of a passage, but it is not designed for detailed word study. Its paraphrase reflects the translator’s interpretation, so comparing it with a more literal translation is wise. Many students use it as a companion rather than a primary text.
