Q: Can I print Bible verses from a modern Bible translation to make bookmarks and give to the church members for free?

A: You certainly can. Whether you would be likely to get sued is a different question, and whether you would be likely to lose such a lawsuit for copyright infringement is a third question.

Question 2: if you're just making bookmarks for fellow churchgoers, it's unlikely the Bible translator / publisher would bother to sue you. This might be a different answer if you started selling the bookmarks on the internet.

Question 3: it's at least arguable that making a bookmark with a snippet of text from a work of many hundreds of thousands of words would be a "transformative" use of the work, and as such, would be an affirmative defense to a charge of copyright infringement.

A: When creating bookmarks with Bible verses from a modern translation, it's important to consider copyright laws. Most modern Bible translations are protected by copyright, and while it's a generous gesture to share these bookmarks with your church members, you need to ensure you have the right permissions.

Usually, for small-scale, non-commercial use like this, many publishers might allow it, especially if you're not selling the bookmarks. However, it's a good idea to check the specific translation’s copyright policy or reach out to the publisher for clarification. Some might have guidelines or request a credit line on the material.

Taking these steps will help you avoid any potential legal issues and allow you to share your bookmarks with peace of mind.