30 Days With the Literary ESV

observations along the way.

Reading this large of a block of scripture every day created a problem for me. I note that I became focused on conquering the territory rather than surveying it as I went. I had to continually struggle against that bent.

I suffer the same shortcoming when I drive on vacation. I could drive past the most beautiful vista's and never notice because my eyes were pinned to the road and my heart was already at my destination. So it was in some measure as I read through the Bible this month. I found myself so focused on conquering the territory that I undoubtedly missed a number of blessings.

On the other hand I gained a panoramic overview of the Bible which can't be had otherwise. So I don't feel any guilt at reading past the details instead I feel blessed for having experienced the grandeur of God's word at a distance. So I didn't miss all the blessings I just received a different set. In fact most slower readers are virtually guaranteed to miss the forest because they're so focused on the trees, or in most cases the bark.

The ESV as a Reader's Bible

The ESV is incredibly readable. The speed with which I read didn't permit me to compare it either to the original languages or to the NASB which has been my main bible translation for a number of years now. However I can say that the ESV rarely felt difficult to read in large chunks. To that effect at minimum it is a good translation for reading. This is an important point for me.

I can't believe I've fallen behind in these posts. I've been reading but not reporting. The problem is that I'm reading on paper now rather than on the computer screen. That means I can read in bed, or in my easy chair or outside while the kids run around. These are the times and places I'm far less prone to writing down my thoughts as I read.

In the last few days I started in Malachi and then passed 400 years with the flick of a finger as I moved from the Old Testament into the New. The Gospels then piled up one after another to invade my senses with the sights and sounds of Israelⁱ lost and struggling to recognize a savior standing right in front of them.

I enjoyed a great day working through (most of) the minor prophets yesterday. Almost no reading at all on the computer screen since my hard copy of the ESVLSB arrived.

In terms of construction it's a pretty well built Bible. It's a hard back which I don't use many of, but it opens flat immediately no matter where you are. The binding is a little tough to figure out - I can't tell if it's glued or sewn. From the end's it looks glued, but the pages (folios) are folded as if sewn. the paper itself is very thin and is not white but parchment colored, which has a staggeringly nice effect on reading. the font is a touch small for my eyes but clean and sharp. All and all since it was designed as a readers' bible it is easy to read.

So with my brand new hard back I sat down outside to read in side the kids' playhouse while my two youngest played in their playhouse and sandbox. Eventually my oldest daughter found her way outside with a book and sat down next to me to read, and pretty soon my second oldest was sitting on the other side of me reading. My wife also - came out to sit near me and we enjoyed the day together.

The shade was lovely the gentle breeze was just the right temperature and my entire family was sitting playing or reading next to me, it was pure bliss.
Thanks God.