NIV, Reference Bible, Deluxe Single-Column, Premium Goatskin Leather, Black, Premier Collection, Black Letter, Art Gilded Edges, Comfort Print

This was my first read-through of the NIV since I was in junior high school (I'm in my mid-30s now) and it was so nostalgic to come back to it! The Bible version used at my school from 1st through 8th grades was an NIV and all of my early memorization was done with it, so reading through this version again felt like coming home and opening up boxes of treasures that were hidden in my heart. It has been updated from the earlier versions of the NIV and I found that I did like the changes.

I still have a few more versions to read through before declaring a solid favorite English translation but this one is definitely in the running. At present, I would say that it is at the top of the list as a whole version but that I really do love Romans and Hebrews in the NRSV.

This edition (the premium single-column reference Bible printed by Zondervan) is so beautiful. The cover is supple and soft and the size is perfect. It feels so good in the hands whilst reading and I love that it has three bookmark ribbons. Single-column Bibles are my preference these days. They feel so much more readable and I find that my mind is able to focus better when reading in this format.