understanding to the simple

Everyone should read this article from EO. I've been saying all along that translations like The Message or the Living Bible are from the devil. This article doesn't actually say that, but it makes a great point that there is something wrong with the simplification of the poetic word of God that is common among evangelical churches. In our desire to make the Word make sense to the lowest common denominator, we strip the Scriptures of their beauty (and often their meaning). We seem to lack trust in the Holy Spirit to make the Word make sense, and so we dumb it down for the flock.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NRSV -- that's it. NIV, go to the back of the line.