I prefer the New King James version. Very similar to the original but tweaked just a little.
Define "Tweaked." I have a 15th century Bible hand-copied from a version published soon after the Council at Nicea, AD 932, I believe. Granted that my latin is moderate, and my understanding of nouns reflects my own teachers' efforts way back when, but I find substantial difference between this copy and modern versions (I'm excluding the KJV, as my church doesn't recognize it) of the New American Bible and the Authorized version released in Latin before the Second Vatican Council.
My point is that translation changes and translations colored by cultural idiom change the content of the Bible dramatically, and what Christian doesn't cringe at the idea of someone messing with sacred scripture? Anyhow, I thought I'd add the old chestnut of being careful of what you ask for... as you might just get it.
BTB, best-known example from Matthew- (Can't remember ch:vs)
New American Version- "Peace on earth, and good will towards Men."
Knock Shrine copy (c.a. early 1400's) "Peace upon the Earth, and to Men of Good will."
Can anyone else see the enormous difference?
Inasmuch as the KJV has influenced (Positively, in my opinion) so much of our culture, the idiom of the times has altered the content, too.