Long ago, .... When I had more, & much darker hair, ... I began to question why many a Preacher would speak from the Pulpit, as if he lived in King Jame's England, but when he came down from the Pulpit he spoke like I did.
I then began to question, why the King James' English was used in the "The Scriptures", when there were different Bibles, written in languages that preceded the "English language". Initially that drew me to a study of the Greek Language, Greek History, Greek Culture, etc., & after having begun to wear out my First Bible, I also Prayed for Knowledge, & Guidance.
It Shocked me to learn that there are more than 100 different Greek Manuscripts that do not agree with each other, & yet many a "out-standing" Bible Authority consistently refers to the Greek. It Shocked me to learn the History of the Greeks, especially the Syrian-Greeks, & how they had treated the "Jews" during the time of the Maccabees, as well as what Antiochus Epiphanies did at the Second Temple. It also Shocked me to learn that Homosexuality & Bestiality were Prevalent throughout Greek Culture.
I walked away from the Greek.
I wanted nothing to do with The Latin, for I had been raised Catholic, & had learned a great deal about Catholicism's history, & practices. In fact, when little, I had been an "Altar Boy", although I was never abused.
I then, back then, settled on the NIV Translation, when it first came out, & Largely Upheld it, for it allegedly came from the best of the "Coine Greek", as well as "Hebrew".
"If", I did not have this Lust For Knowledge & Truth, .... then I probably would have stopped at the NIV, but ... The Father wasn't done with me.
It then "dawned on me", that the "Covenant People", those who were/are called "My People" by Our Creator, more than 180 times in the Tanach/ Old Testament alone, .... Spoke the Hebrew Language.
The Scriptures, have that language as it's Root. In fact, where many have taught that the Hebrew had been replaced by the Greek, during The Messiah's Time, is at the least Extremely misleading, & Frankly a Lie, which can be easily verified by the book of Acts, as well as many a historical Roman Secular document.
But, as far as the NIV? I began to compare it more Intensely to the KJV, & other Older Bibles such as the Geneva, & then it quickly came to me, that the NIV, had many "Corruptions" that had been brought about by Modern Man, so, ... I respectfully moved it to the side, & went back to the KJV, as far as a Physical, "within reach" Bible, but even it, has many "issues". The KJV, upon it's 1st printing earned the name "The Wicked Bible" cuz' the printer made several errors in it, including "Thou shalt commit Adultery".
The KJV, up to the early 1800s included the Apocrypha, & then it was "Administratively Removed" cuz' the American & British Bible Societies were "Inspired to remove it". I thought "Dang! Wasn't King James & his Court Spiritually Inspired to have the KJV written?!?!?"
Anyway, I'm getting "long winded" here, so.... I Physically use the KJV, wherever I go, but, I'm Seeking a better Translation of the Hebrew & Aramaic.
"a real relationship with God!", .................... Absolutely Brother, ... It Is Life Itself.
"Do we always stay on track... no... we are human."
..................... I'll go further, ... Until We are changed, per the Prophecies, We are capable of Sinning as King David did, every single hour of Our Lives. David held the most Fantastic Key of Life, ... He Absolutely Knew how to Repent, & Praise His Creator, & YAHWEH Loved David for this.
Myself, .... There is a Nano-particle of Separation between what I used to Live like, & what I Strive for, but I am Light Years from being "Perfect".
"Honestly... not sure how I would make it through life without our heavenly Father watching over us!"