I have another question. What free translation most closely resembles NIV?
Thanks, --Storm
I would recommend the NET Bible.
The NIV was originally contracted as a HS-age translation but when they
discovered churches were using them as pew rack Bibles they discontinued
mention of that.
There are many "in order to simplify" compromises made in the NIV that round
the edges of complete accuracy for the sake of a less challenging read for HS
students.
The NET is a very modern translation that is also very readable and it
educates the reader who chooses to refer to the included translator's
notes about the shades of meaning that challenge translators.
Most of the other free translations are very old and suffer from no-longer-
accurate English dialects or are biased toward a peculiar theological philosophy.
IMHO, YMMV ... doc