There are many versions of the Bible, but not all of them are approved by the Catholic Church. Since 1983, Church law has given the authority to approve translations of sacred Scriptures to the Apostolic See (the Church’s central government, led by the pope) and local bishops’ conferences. Prior to 1983, translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary, usually a bishop or vicar general. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops maintains a comprehensive list of translations that have been approved since 1983. These include well-known versions such as the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, as well as some you may not be as familiar with, such as The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version).
One reason why selecting a Catholic edition of the Bible is crucial is ensuring that it contains the proper translations of the right books. There are differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles that are as foundational as what is in them. While almost all versions agree on the 27 books in the New Testament, the Old Testament varies. Protestant Bibles have only 39 books, while Catholic Bibles add seven more: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. Additionally, there are sections of the books of Esther and Daniel that are only found in Catholic Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church believes these books are inspired by the Holy Spirit and includes them.