Re: Copyrighted Bibles.

David Starner wrote:

> A translation of a Bable-text sized
> chunk of anything, except possibly a short poem, is probably fair
> use, but even if it's noncommercial, translating and distributing
> a whole work is usually not going to be covered by fair use. (IANAL,
> of course.)
Here is a copyright notice from New International Version - the Bible text I use
most often as an interpreter in a Bible college:

<<The Holy Bible, New International Version
Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

The NIV text may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of one thousand
(1,000) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing
the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the
verses quoted account for 50% of the total work in which they are quoted.

Notice of copyright must apper on the title or copyright page of the work as
follows:

``Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright (c)
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Bible Publishers.''

When quotations from the NIV are used in non-saleable media, such as church
bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, the
initials (NIV) may be used at the end of each quotation.

Quotations and/or reprints in excess of one thousand (1,000) verses, or other
permission requests, must be directed and approved in writing by Zondervan Bible
Publishers.>>

So,
1. some opportunities are available;
2. it's safer to use non-copyrighted version, e.g. ASV (American Standard
Version, 1901);
3. you may freely use the original Hebrew/Greek text;
4. it proves that the whole idea of copyrighting sacred scriptures is hraaather
stupid.

Here is the Babel text from the ASV:

<<<<<<<<<<<<
ASV Genesis 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land
of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Come, let us
make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime
had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower,
whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered
abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And Jehovah came down to see the city
and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And Jehovah said, Behold,
they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin
to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do. 7
Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not
understand one another's speech. 8 So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence
upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore
was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language
of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face
of all the earth.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here is the Babel text from the Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898). It
gives you the very structure of the text.

<<<<<<<<<<<<
YLT Genesis 11:1 And the whole earth is of one pronunciation, and of the same
words, 2 and it cometh to pass, in their journeying from the east, that they
find a valley in the land of Shinar, and dwell there; 3 and they say each one to
his neighbour, 'Give help, let us make bricks, and burn {them} thoroughly:' and
the brick is to them for stone, and the bitumen hath been to them for mortar. 4
And they say, 'Give help, let us build for ourselves a city and tower, and its
head in the heavens, and make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over
the face of all the earth.' 5 And Jehovah cometh down to see the city and the
tower which the sons of men have builded; 6 and Jehovah saith, 'Lo, the people
{is} one, and one pronunciation {is} to them all, and this it hath dreamed of
doing; and now, nothing is restrained from them of that which they have purposed
to do. 7 Give help, let us go down, and mingle there their pronunciation, so
that a man doth not understand the pronunciation of his companion.' 8 And
Jehovah doth scatter them from thence over the face of all the earth, and they
cease to build the city; 9 therefore hath {one} called its name Babel, for there
hath Jehovah mingled the pronunciation of all the earth, and from thence hath
Jehovah scattered them over the face of all the earth.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mid allen betsten wyschen,
~~~~~~Yitzik~~~~~~