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Biblical Studies:(my area of concentration)
General Biblical Texts and References
The Biblical Text
Primary Texts
On Translations:
Most mainline Christian denominations use one of three translations in the USA: the New American Bible, the Revised Standard Version and the Jerusalem Bible.
The New American Bible translation is the translation most people hear in church and so it is most familiar to most Christians (other than perhaps the King James Version). Based on recent scholarship and written as a direct translation from the original Hebrew and Greek into English with an intent of being presented as appropriate for an American ear. There are many editions. The one below is an excellent study text.
The Revised Standard Version is a more literal translation of the original Greek and Hebrew, but is not as kind on the ear. I prefer it for study as do many others.
The Jerusalem Bible translation is based on work done at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem by a group of scholars who first translated the text into French. It is noted for its excellent notes and footnotes as well as its treatment of the poetic texts.
The Catholic Study Bible (paper). Contains the New American translation along with several hundred pages of introductory notes. Also available in hardcover. There are many versions of this translation available but I find this one to be very good for Bible study.
The New Oxford Annotated Bible With The Apocrypha/New Revised Standard Version: College Edition (hardcover) - (Catholic version): A more literal translation from the original Hebrew and Greek and so not as easy on the common ear. But still better as a translation for anyone interested in serious Bible study. This text is also available in paperback.
The New Jerusalem Bible (hardcover) With a new format making it easier to read. This version is also available in paperback and Leather Bound .
Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Completely Revised on the Basis of the Greek Text of Nestle Aland (hardcover - English only edition). A great tool to have for gospel study as it presents gospel parallels side by side so you can compare different versions of the same gospel stories. And a great bargain. The Greek-English edition (though very expensive) is also available.