This is a difficult one for me and I have been going back and forth on it for awhile now. I have three I like to use, the NASB, the ESV, and the NRSV. The NIV is decent but I consider it definitely more of a paraphrase than the other ones. I consider the KJV to be not very good at all (particularly in the NT) for serious study; in fact, it can even be actively misleading since it uses poor texts (in the NT).
Having done some research on the subject, I would have to say that I find the most accurate translation to be the NRSV (the NASB would be a close second). I think it finds the most balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought out of any of the translations.
Having done some research on the subject, I would have to say that I find the most accurate translation to be the NRSV (the NASB would be a close second). I think it finds the most balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought out of any of the translations.