I have been wanting to provide new French Bibles to the Sword Project lately. The main versions used in France currently are the TOB (Traduction Oecuménique de la Bible), the NSB (Nouvelle Bible de Segond) and the BJ (Bible de Jérusalem). But all these versions are … copyrighted!
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Yes, even the Word of God gets to be copyrighted now, and can’t be quoted or shared freely. Some copyrights are even a bit weird. For example, the BDS (Bible du Semeur) can be used just as long as the program doesn’t allow the user to see or extract more than 500 verses at a time. I believe this is the same for the NIV, too.

Don’t get me wrong though, I really think the work of translators and publishers should be rewarded, but I do not think that implies preventing people from sharing the Word of God freely.

Some programs manage to distribute these versions of the Bible, following the restrictions given by the publishers. Some even get to distribute versions with a key that has to be bought to decode the module… and I doubt Peter is the one selling the key ;)

If any translator and/or editor reads this blog, I urge them to remember that the Word of God is a gift from Him, and to free it from these copyrights.

“Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8)