The Parallel Apocrypha is a multi-text version of the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books. It is intended for clergy of all denominations, students, academics, and interested lay readers. A comprehensive essay by Judith L. Kovacs on the content and character of the Apocrypha enhances this unique volume, as do six introductory essays on the role of the Apocrypha in Judaism and several Christian traditions.