Douay-Rheims Bible (Burgundy Premium UltraSoft): Standard Print Size

If you are a language nerd like me, you will LOVE this text. It's simply sublime. Genesis 1:2 and 2:7 are worth the price of admission alone for the rational minded evolutionists ("rational minded" here is not said with snobbery or righteousness). The notations and linkings of verses is great. Again this goes back to the language point I made. As for the linking of verses, maybe it's been that long since I've looked at a bible, but I don't remember seeing that before.. The definitional index of sacraments and key teachings (ahh purgatory, the one major thing I remember going crazy about at bible study years ago...) and their validity in text is simply an indispensible tool. The photos are beautiful, though the "maps" are criminally undetailed. The timeline is interesting and quite useful as well. The list of popes, prayers, and text listings of feast days, and gospels for holy days makes this an absolutely perfect companion to have as you drag yourself back to mass for the first time in years, or sit in adoration for an hour. I'd suggest the 2 tone "stand firm in the lord" bible case for this. The burgundy, while not my preferred color (literally I ordered the first DR I found that also delivered next or same day), gives the text a proper dignified, and decidedly holy casing. The text size is just right. One minor gripe is there's only one ribbon (I remember catholic bibles as having approximately 35 ribbons all of various colors for all sorts of things), but it is a nice color. And of course, the translation. You simply cannot go wrong reading a Vulgate translation, as I've noted. If nothing else, as I said before, the translation itself is worth the purchase. The text reads so completely differently and is much richer. Also lends itself to some different spellings due to the fact that Latin lacks some written notation for certain sounds (so Noah is Noe and Sarah is Sara and Ham is Cham. My inner linguist drools.) Oh, and "Revelations"? Nope, it's listed here as "The Apocalypse"

Great Bible to have as a Catholic

The wording has a much more accurate and rich meaning. Other bibles have different wording that can change the meaning somewhat. The Douay Rheims is the most accurate. I love this bible. A few pictures in the back. At the front is information about ST Benedict and his medal. A page for family register. Births. Marriages. A page that says presented to that you can fill out. The print is small. With my trifocals I have to hold the bible close to my face. The notes are even smaller. Guess I should order the large print. The reviews on the large print Douay Rheims is strange. A few people are reviewing for a completely different bible. The NKJV. Am thinking of ordering the larger print. I will read this one and see how it goes with small print. This bible is worth your time and money. The Douay Rheims has become my favorite. I don't want to stop reading it. Hard to put down. I never had a bible that made me feel that way. The didache is a close 2nd. But the Douay Rheims is my favorite of all. And I've read several bibles. Purchase this one. You won't regret it. And by the way Jesus words are in red.

I didn’t realize how many photo shoots I had with this Bible until I started searching for photos to compliment my review. Anyways, you can tell I absolutely love this Bible and it has taken the place on my bookshelf and in my heart as my new favorite Bible. The translation is as accurate and as close to the ancient Church texts as anyone will get….ever. I ended up buying a few for random friends that I respect and am trying to introduce to them the wonders and beauty of the Catholic faith. St Benedict Press did an amazing job with just the overall quality of this Bible. All of it is great. My brother ordered me one and had it sent to my house and I haven’t put it down since. I had it blessed two weeks ago by Fr. Gene! This Bible has made me realize that St Mark’s Gospel Book is my favorite of all-time and before I couldn’t decide. The summary of each Evangelist before their Gospel Book was a beautiful touch and really establishes a context and base for getting more out of each Gospel Book. I found it really made me appreciate their individual writing styles and gave me grounds to have a favorite float to the surface which was something I never had and/or never considered. God Bless everyone reading this and I’m not sure if that insane sale Amazon had for this Bible is still going on, but if it’s still 30-something bucks, GET IT. God Bless you all and PRAISES BE TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Bible is great, decent print, easy to read, very small but good commentaries that don't clutter the pages, great size, great columns, words of Christ in red, good maps with a couple illustrations, Douary-Rheims text, etc. However, The one I was sent came either used or damaged. The plastic wrap was partially torn, the pages feel like they were damp once up a time, some pages have creases and the bottom and side of the pages have the gold gilding faded off. Cover has a small ding also. The package was minimal so it was probably tossed around and damaged that way. *I exchanged it and received one in much better condition. I would recommend you do the same should you received it damaged. But anyways, 5 stars Bible!

Not quite what I was looking for or expected but I ain’t complaining I loved it with the Crusaders/ Jerusalem Cross

I love the look and feel of this bible, but especially the archaic language. I’m not overly fond of modern language, so the “thees” and “thous” are a plus for me. The one criticism I have is that the book has an overpowering odor - perhaps the glue used to bind it, or the ink used for printing, or the paint used to gild the edges. I have to take frequent breaks because the smell is strong enough to give me a headache. UPDATE 23 SEPT 2022: It's been almost 2 weeks since my Bible arrived and the strong chemical odor that was present is now nearly gone. But, it took nearly all this time for the chemical smell to lessen and this due to my leaving it in a well-ventilated area. That said, I am still satisfied with it overall. UPDATE 19 APRIL 2025: The chemical smell persists to this day. I realize I mentioned in my previous update (2022) that it had lessened, but it's back. I've left this book out in the open, but this has done nothing.

Although I have read other Catholic bibles, I never had one in this version. What a pleasant surprise to finally read the Douay-Rheims)! Now I begin to understand why many people still opt to read this version over the others. Since I have other versions, I could not help but compare them. I hope the reader of this review wont take this against me. Between the 3 of them (New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition) I find that the more direct and short "version" would be the NAB and RSV-CE with the NAB inclined toward contemporary diverse vocabulary, the RSV-CE more inclined toward traditional vocabulary. The more expanded passages however, seems to be from the DR. There are also several verses that are present at the DR and not mentioned at the RSV-CE and the NAB, at least from my initial reading of the deuterocanon books. Despite the apparent challenge with the DR's language style, there is beauty in it all its own. for instance, here is an excerpt from the book of Judith: the version from the New American Bible: 12 When the Assyrians saw them, they notified their captains; these, in turn, went to the generals and division leaders and all their other commanders. 13 They came to the tent of Holofernes and said to the one in charge of all his things, "Waken our master, for the slaves have dared come down to give us battle, to their utter destruction." 14 Bagoas went in, and knocked at the entry of the tent, presuming that he was sleeping with Judith. 15 As no one answered, he parted the curtains, entered the bedroom, and found him lying on the floor, a headless corpse. 16 He broke into a loud clamor of weeping, groaning, and howling, and rent his garments. the version from RSV-CE: 12 And when the Assyrians saw them they sent word to their commanders, and they went to the generals and the captains and to all their officers. 13 So they came to Holofernes' tent and said to the steward in charge of all his personal affairs, "Wake up our lord, for the slaves have been so bold as to come down against us to give battle, in order to be destroyed completely." 14 So Bagoas went in and knocked at the door of the tent, for he supposed that he was sleeping with Judith. 15 But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him thrown down on the platform dead, with his head cut off and missing. 16 And he cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted, and rent his garments. and the corresponding passage from the Douay-Rheims: [8] And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes. [9] And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by their noise.[10] For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the general of the Assyrians. [11] But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlains: [12] Go in, and awake him, for the mice coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight. [13] Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping with Judith. [14] But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, sweltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments. See how the NAB and RSV-CE appeared almost the same? Now notice how the DR have more subtle information not found in the other two! In the DR, the author of Judith made it a point to mention that no one dared directly wake the general by calling his name. Instead, they made noise ("endeavoring by art") outside his tent hoping the commotion would wake him ("break his rest")on his own accord. Also note that even his personal attendant did not knock, but clapped his hands, "..For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the general of the Assyrians.." For this reason alone, I would highly recommend the Douay-Rheims! This is not to conclude that all throughout the bible, the DR has such information in abundance or that it is the more accurate by reason of this. I am just happy that I also have the Douay-Rheims as I continue with my bible reading journey. The only thing I don't really like about this volume from Saint Benedict Press (not necessarily the DR version) is that they use a plain textured cover, not the "wrinkled" leather texture that they used in the NAB. I don't get it. Both feature the publisher's "Ultrasoft-Cover" yet the NAB's has a better surface texture. Also the end pages of the DR which sticks to the covers are plain black paper, while on the NAB, a vinyl like material. Still, a 5-star product. Highly recommended!