What is the best Bible translation as gift to someone who does not own a Bible?

Good question. I think it depends on the person and where they are at and what they need. The ESV is supposed to be the most literal English translation.

I like that one. But the Message version is conceptually easier to understand and this might be good for somebody who is just starting out and really doesn't have much of a background in Christianity. Actually, there is a parallel Bible that has 2 translations side-by-side...that's better!

I think The Message and maybe ESV or NIV are side-by-side. I know an author who is working on a translation called "The Passion" translation and it is the best translation I've read so far! He's only done Song of Songs and half of the Psalms so far, but it you want to check out s book on Song of Songs you won't regret it.

I read it over and over and over again and I understand things that I've not understood before. I personally know the author and he is an amazing man of God. Here's a link if you are interested!

http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Solomon--Passion-Tra.

Personally, I like the King James Version. That is a personal choice of mine. Most likely the easiest to read and understand would be the NASB.

The translation seems to be better than the KJV.

As a bible college student there is no simple answer to this question... as we just did alot of discussion on different translations of the Bible... where they came from what they are missing or added based on the text they used for the translation, now with the legal disclaimer out there....The Message is an easy read but is written by one man with many mistakes in translations... It doesn't miss the point of the gospel it does miss some accounts...EVS is a great translation but a little dry at times...KJV is to old for someone to understand with all the eth endings a new believer will give it up...NKJV is hard to read for most people...What I suggest is a daily study Bible... look for one with a good cometary included every day... will give them guidence in reading through the Bible, plus the cometary will put it in terms they can understand in todays world...Then the version is less important, the writer of the cometary is more important, ask at the look Bible story and they will give you some good suggestions to look through...There are some geared for just about any group of people...

Please avoid the multiple choice Bible...I mean the amplified Bible. For a beginner, all those choices can be both confusing and misleading.

I love KJV for the beauty of the language and there are KJV study Bibles that help with the verses. I also have the NIV study Bible which I love for its ease of understanding and flow. It too has explanations for the verses and references if you have trouble with interpreting them.

I think the Message is a great version, but agree putting it together with something like the NIV might be good for clarity. I use several Bibles when I'm working on school work, usually looking verses up in multiple versions through Bible Gateway. The Message would be good as a gift to someone who's never read the Bible, though.

I also like the KJV, but many people find it hard to read, especially without a Biblical background.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.