First of all we must understand that the main language of the Old Testament was classical Hebrew with some parts in Aramaic. This form of Hebrew was spoken as early as 1500 B.C. to some time after 400 B.C. This form of Hebrew evolved into Mishnaic Hebrew somewhere around the second century B.C to the second century A.D. Modern Hebrew, based on the earlier forms, developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. More detail in the progression of the Hebrew language can be found on-line.
The main language of the New Testament was Koine Greek which was the language commonly spoken by the public and was the basic form of communication by people throughout the Roman Empire. This was used by the early Christian authors.
The above is a very brief summation of the history of the Biblical languages taken from the English Standard Version [ESV] Study Bible.
Not many theologians are Classical Hebrew and Koine Greek linguists. Therefore, we depend on the group of theologians who write and publish the various Bible translations, to ensure that they are accurate to the original languages.
The Equivalency Scale is used to categorize Bible translations. One end of the scale is labeled Formal and the other end is labeled Dynamic. The Formal category means the translation is word-for-word. They are a little harder to read and understand because the sentence structure is broken up. The Dynamic category means the translation is thought-for-thought and easier to read and understand because the sentence structure flows smoothly.
Examples of translations found on the Formal end of the Scale would be the King James Version [KJV], the New King James Version [NKJV] and the New American Standard Bible [NASB], to name a few.
Examples of translations found on the Dynamic end of the Scale would be the Christian Standard Bible [CSB], New Living Translation [NLT], English Standard Version [ESV] and the New International Version [NIV], to name a few.
So the question is, “Which one is the best”?
I would recommend the NLT or the CSB for a new Christian. But for others, it really comes down to the one you are used to reading and personal preference.
Personally, I prefer the NLT and the ESV.
Once you decide on a Bible, read it. Don’t let it sit on a shelf collecting dust.
All Bible translations can be purchased on Amazon or your local Christian Bookstore.