Scripture Memory - preferred version?

[alydar]

Just wondering which translation you prefer to do scripture memory with. Last year with DS (then 6) I was using the KJV. This year I've gone to the ESV but in a way I miss the poetic flow of the KJV. I've heard in other circles that reading the KJV prepares young minds for reading rich literature like Shakespeare later. Seems to make sense. Thoughts?

[lharris]

Just wondering which translation you prefer to do scripture memory with. Last year with DS (then 6) I was using the KJV. This year I've gone to the ESV but in a way I miss the poetic flow of the KJV. I've heard in other circles that reading the KJV prepares young minds for reading rich literature like Shakespeare later. Seems to make sense. Thoughts?

That is exactly right! I usually tell parents this because its true - you want the child to hear old language. Another option for the memory verse is the NKJV which I love too! This one is my daughter's favorite. However, my 3rd grader reads aloud from the Bible on HOD's 5th day in Bigger and I like the NIrV version for that purpose. Memory verses can be done in more than one translation. But you can always switch off depending on how difficult the verse is in the KJV. When my child is reading the Bible himself and is building his reading skills, I like the younger version for that with the hopes of easing him into NIV/NASB by 5th grade and KJV reading on his own by jr. high or similar benchmark. I just want him to be comfortable with the KJV. I teach a women's class and you would think I'm asking them to fly to the moon by suggesting they read KJV. I've enjoyed reading from the Good News Bible, New Living Translation, some NIV. The translation battle is not worth the obvious anxiety attacks they seem to have. I just want His lambs to read!! Have a blessed year,
Laura

[countrymom]

We have done all memory work with our boys from the NKJV from the very beginning. I grew up with the KJV and whatever you begin with seems to stick with you. Our boys are young (4 1/2 & 6) and they are memorizing many memory verses in addition to HOD with ease.

[VAmomto4]

Even my 3 yr old memorizes from the KJV!

[John'smom]

KJV

[Tmisek]

I think any version you are comfortable with is good. My kids are using the NIV for memorization because they seem to undertand it a little easier. For the past 20+ years I myself have used the NIV, but a little over a year ago felt led to switch to the ESV (and love it). I am now re-memorizing Scripture in a new version, and it is still beautiful, wonderful Scripture...with a little different flavor! God's Word is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and if our children can develop a love for it and hide it in their hearts, I think God will take it from there!

God Bless!

[Mom of Three]

I want my kids to read the KJV when they are teens, but for now I want them to know that God does not speak in some far off old fashioned tone. I want them to know that scripture is relevant to their daily lives and in their daily language. So we're going to use the Holman version.

[mater est laetus]

I honestly read from whatever version is handy. For getting familiar with KJV language I play the KJV audio Bible for them. For memory verses I've been using whatever version is used in the music CD with LHfHG. It seems like it is usually NKJV but at least one so far has been from the old NIV. The music has been such a pleasant aid to memorization and we enjoy taking full benefit from it.

[vjj4]

For what it's worth this is what we do. I go to Bible.com and type in the memory verse and hit look up in several versions, then I list my three or four favorites and see which I like best for that verse. I did this for Beyond too and it worked out really good. I make the print large and for Beyond I laminated each week. For Bigger, I am keeping each week's in our binder under bible tab.

[acts29stl]

I use NASB with my older 2 and now with my ds doing LHFHG I use whatever version the accompaning CD is using! I think I have become less picky and am now focusing on the "why" behind the memorizing If they can actually do "children obey your parents in the Lord" I dont care what version it's memorized in!!!

[gotpeace91]

For scripture memory in HOD we use whatever version the CD that comes with the guide uses. I prefer KJV because I think it's prettier but we find the CDs so helpful to aid in scripture memory that we use them. The kids read the scripture and then listen to the song without reading along. (some words are held in long notes and some phrases are repeated) If I were doing a guide that didn't have a CD to go with it I would probably use KJV. If my kids were struggling with the wording on a particular verse I would then switch to NKJV. Hope that helps.