Mini Roundup of Inexpensive Bible Software
Fri, 2009-03-27 05:00 — jason
My Acer Aspire One is quickly becoming the only "book" that I carry. To be a complete replacement for books that I like to have around, it was necessary to find some Bible software for it, so here's a quick wrap up of what I found.
I had a few requirements:
- Cheap or free
- At least the commercial NET notes module available
- Paragraph formatting available
e-Sword
The first software I tried was the free e-Sword. e-Sword does have copyrighted Bible modules available for it. But it fails to provide a paragraph layout. Also, e-Sword requires a separate download and install for each module you want to add to it, this becomes quite tiring and annoying if you want to add several books at a time.
Another mild annoyance is that I cannot find any way to disable all of the markup in the text. As you can see from the screenshot the text is rather busy.
e-Sword Screenshot
Xiphos
The next software tried was Xiphos. Xiphos is an open source front-end to the SWORD library. It's free, has the NET available for it (all SWORD front-ends have it available) and has a lot of options for formatting the Bible text. Also, Xiphos has a great module manager built in to it, with downloading capabilities for all of the freely available SWORD modules.
The UI is simple and clean. However the NET is the only copyrighted text available for it. An unspoken desire that was added after I started looking was to have the HCSB available.
Xiphos Screenshot in Paragraph Layout
Xiphos Screenshot in Verse Layout
WORDSearch 8
The software I ultimately ended up using is WORDSearch 8. I tried the free little brother of WORDSearch, Bible Explorer, first, but it really does not do the commercial version justice. The company would do well to provide more screenshots and info on the commercial version.
WORDSearch has just about every Bible translation available for it, commercial or otherwise. My main complaint is the modules that it does not offer for free, but are freely available in other software. For example, the complete Matthew Henry's Commentary is $59, but it is available for free with Xiphos. The free version of the NET is also not available; if you want the text you'll have to buy the $20 complete version of the NET.
Even though I'm very satisfied with WORDSearch I'll be keeping Xiphos around for those reasons.
WORDSearch 8 Showing HCSB Illustrated Bible
Comments
Xiphos
Xiphos does have several copyrighted texts available, including the ESV. We don't have HCSB, but if someone was willing to talk to the publisher, perhaps it could be added.
Matthew
Xiphos developer
Question about WordSearch 8; comment on eSword
When you installed WORDSearch 8, did you have the option of choosing what gets installed? I would like to get the WORDSearch 8 Thompson Chain-Reference Bible Library, but most of what is included I will not use, and would like to install only what I will use.
Just a note on e-Sword. The KJV without Strong's numbering is a different Bible, and the KJV+ (with Strong's numbering) is included in the starter package. You have to download and install the KJV Bible module separately. Installing extra modules does not require re-starting your computer.
Thanks,