ESV Bible Blog

The ESV Web Service now has an option for output-type=mp3, so you can integrate audio directly into your applications.

For example, here’s the URL to hear John 3:16-17: http://www.esvapi.org/v2/rest/passageQuery?key=IP&output-format=mp3&passage=John+3:16-17

Just change the “passage” parameter, and you can listen to any passage or combination of passages (up to around 200 verses).

The audio is copyrighted (as indicated in the MP3 files themselves) and subject to the same Terms of Service as the rest of the ESV API, including non-commercial use. Notably, you’re not allowed to just download the whole Bible. We sell a complete ESV audio Bible for $29.99 if you want to do that.

Paul K. Graham recently completed a Mechanical Turk experiment: he paid people to rewrite King James Bible verses in their own words. The results are interesting. For example, John 3:16-17 becomes:

God loved the people of the world so much that he gave to them his only son, and whoever believes in the son will not die. Instead, they will live forever. God didn’t send His Son Jesus to condemn people, but rather He sent Jesus so that people could be saved through Jesus.

Compare the ESV:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

All the ESV Bible reading plans are now available as free podcasts. You don’t need to do anything special if you’re already subscribed: the MP3s will show up automatically for you.

To subscribe in iTunes, here’s what to do:

1. Go to the ESV Reading Plans page.
2. Right-click (Ctrl-click on a Mac) the “RSS” link of the feed you want.
3. Choose “Copy Link Location” or “Copy Shortcut.”
4. Start iTunes.
5. Choose Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast
6. Paste the URL from step three into the box.
7. Click OK.

We’re still working out a few kinks, but we hope you enjoy the podcasts. The audio is by David Cochran Heath and is available for purchase and for streaming at the ESV Online Study Bible.

ESV Hear the Word Audio Downloads—the audio found at the ESV Online Study Bible—are now available.

Prices are $29.99 for the complete Bible, $19.99 for just the Old Testament, $14.99 for just the New Testament, $4.99 for Psalms and Proverbs, and $4.99 for the Gospels.

The complete Gospel of John is available for free download, as are a few other samples. As always, the ESV Online Study Bible lets you stream any passage you’d like.

This recording is by David Cochran Heath. Heath is a veteran stage actor, performing in more than one hundred productions. He has recorded many audio books, including Christian classics by Thomas a Kempis, Francis Schaeffer, and John Piper.

If you’re technically inclined, after you buy, you can choose the bitrate that best meets your needs: 128 KBps (4 GB for the complete Bible), 64 KBps (2 GB for the complete Bible) or 32 KBps (1 GB for the complete Bible). Unless you’re an audiophile, we recommend 64 KBps as the best balance between file size and audio quality.

The ESV Hear the Word Bible is also available as a physical product: on 59 CDs ($99.99) or 7 MP3 CDs ($49.99).

Erik at The Kowalker Journey provides six tips on what to look for when evaluating the quality of a Bible’s binding. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between a glued and a sewn binding, or bonded and genuine leather, he has answers for you.

The ESV Online Study Bible now lets you listen to a brand-new recording of the ESV text. Try it out in Matthew 5—just click the “Listen” link. You can even listen to any combination of individual verses (try Matthew 5:14-15).

We’ll be rolling out this recording to our other sites, podcasts, and the ESV API in the near future, and you’ll be able to buy it from Crossway starting next week. The existing recordings by Max McLean and Marquis Laughlin will remain available.

This recording is by David Cochran Heath. Heath is a veteran stage actor, performing in more than one hundred productions. He has recorded many audio books, including Christian classics by Thomas a Kempis, Francis Schaeffer, and John Piper

If you’ve been using Safari to access the ESV Online Study Bible, we fixed a bug that was preventing you from hearing the audio. Quit and restart Safari, and you should be able to hear the new recording.

Today is the official publication date for the ESV Study Bible. You should receive your copy shortly if you preordered it somewhere, and your local Christian bookstore probably has it in stock. (If not, ask them—politely—about it!)

We look forward to hearing your feedback on your blogs and reading your reviews at places like Amazon.

St. Andrew’s Church of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.—one of the largest Episcopal churches in the U.S.—is transitioning to the ESV and just received a pallet of ESV Bibles. Dave Libbon, the Youth Pastor at St. Andrew’s, writes:

I’m excited because it’s the translation personally I like to use. I realize I’m nerding out a little on this one but when you love scripture and the first thing you see when you roll up to work is a huge pallet of Bibles something sets me off.

Mark at Bible Design & Binding has been following the recent release of two ESV Bibles by high-end Scottish Bible publisher R. L. Allan: the ESV1, with a black goatskin cover, and the ESV1T, with a tan goatskin cover. Mark shares unboxing photos and some additional detailed photos.

Ryan Ferguson recites Psalm 145 from the ESV in this video from the WorshipGod08 Conference:

Via Worship Matters, which has some additional details, including this explanation of the background music:

Scripture readings don’t have to be accompanied with music, but because this took place in between two songs, I kept playing. I tried to follow Ryan’s inflections and amplify the emotional flow of the passage. Playing behind prayers or readings isn’t always helpful. Sometimes it can sound like Muzak. Sometimes it can be a distraction, as people try to figure out what song you’re playing. But there are times when I think it can be effective and help people listen more carefully to what’s being said. I hope this was one of them.

You may remember Ryan’s earlier recitation of the book of Hebrews and of Hebrews 9 and 10.