What is the difference between many Bible Translations? Which one should I buy?

There are a number of options when purchasing a Holy Bible in the English Language.  Here is a brief description of each version and some opinion on when they are to be used.

The Bible in English has only been available for a little over 600 years.  As the English language changes, new translations have been developed in order to make the Holy Bible easier to read and more relevant to the culture of that day. 

The following Holy Bible translations are recommended widely for accurate and relevant Bible study, reading, teaching, preaching and application.  Any of the next six versions are a good choice for purchase.

KJV - King James Version - A great Bible for all to own and to reference alongside other versions, not the best for in depth study and practical application.  Written in Old English, typically hard to understand.  Printed in 1611 it was a collaborative effort of 47 scholars.  Widely accepted as an accurate translation, yet difficult in todays terms to understand and apply. Literal Version.

NKJV - New King James Version - A great study Bible, still not in the most modern English.  Scholars revised the language of the KJV with due diligence toward linguistics and textual studies in order to change as little as possible.  Adjusted a minor amount simply for updating the dialect at the time.  Literal Version.

NIV - New International Version - Common Bible Study Translation, easy and relevant reading, especially when cross referenced with a King James for further accuracy.  A new translation of the Bible made specifically for reading, teaching, memorizing and yet conservatively translated for retained accuracy.  Known as a "thought for thought" translation.

NASB - New American Standard Bible - Common Bible Study Translation, readable and known for accuracy.  Revision of ASV, pays particular attention to verb tenses in order to give reader same sensitivity to passages being read in the Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew forms.  Highly literal version.

ESV - English Standard Version - Common Bible Study Translation, easy to read and known for accuracy.  Known as a "word for word" translation.  Original Greek and Aramaic translated into the most accurate English word of this time. 

NLT - New Living Translation - Good Bible study version.  One of the easiest to read and translated into current language.  Modern speech, created to duplicate the impact on today's readers as the original text had on those readers.  Translation of overall thoughts not just word by word.  Known for accuracy but its not recommended alone because of the non word for word translation.

The following Bible versions are not recommended for accuracy but are widely read for reasons of delivering a message to a specific age group including teens and young adults.  Not to be used for study, memorization, or preaching without other versions included.

The Message - Dynamic version with very modern English.  Paraphrases without complete accuracy to verbs, or literal translations.

LB - The Living Bible - Modern English, not recommended.  Paraphrased and considered inadequate.  Known as more of a commentary than an accurate translation of the Bible.

It is not recommended to use a liberal translation as main ideas and words may not be translated as literally as with the first list of recommended versions.  Also be careful to use a Bible translated over a period of time with a large group of scholars and a governing authority over the project; with reverence and belief in the Word.  Translations by one specific person, group, or denomination are not recommended.

Thoughtfully consider purchasing a Bible that is easy for you to read.  You are then more likely to spend time reading it.  A large type is helpful, as well as margins that are large enough to add notes.  There are also a number of additions in certain Bibles with maps, a cross reference system, concordance and dictionary.  These tools are necessary for any serious study of the Holy Bible.