Written to be Spoken

Scripture was originally received by listening, and the NLT scholar team intentionally honors this tradition by ensuring every book flows beautifully and naturally when read out loud. (see Nehemiah 8; Luke 4:16-20; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3). It is still the case today that more people will hear the Bible read aloud in church than are likely to read it for themselves. Therefore, a translation must communicate with clarity and power when it is read aloud. For this reason, the New Living Translation has been intentionally crafted to be ideally suited for public reading. Its living language is not only easy to understand but also has an emotive quality that will make an impact on listeners. The NLT speaks right to the heart and minds of listeners because they immediately understand its message without having to process technical language.