The King James Bible is a literal translation, as opposed to being a paraphrase. New Bible translations are paraphrases, however some call it "dynamic equivalence," or "literary equivalence." One person often does paraphrases, while new version equivalence translations are done by groups of people. I’d rather read what the Bible literally says, not what someone, or some group of people think it means.
There are two main lines of manuscripts for the New Testament of the Bible. One line is the Alexandrian line, and the other is the Antiochian line. The Antiochian line is the line the KJV was translated from. The manuscripts underlying the KJV (such as the Textus Receptus) agree with 95-99% of the almost 6000 ancient manuscripts, while the manuscripts underlying the ESV, NASB, NIV, HCSB, parts of the NKJV, and most other modern versions use the manuscripts (such as the Vaticanus and Sianaticus) that disagree with 99% of the almost 6000 manuscripts. Furthermore, these Alexandrian manuscripts even disagree with each other. One of the Alexandrian line manuscripts was found in a trashcan. Maybe it should have stayed there.
Many people think that the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, HCSB, NIV, and other translations all say the same thing, but they don't. New Bible translations remove parts of verses, and sometimes, whole verses from the Bible. They also have some verses in them that say the opposite of the KJV, and most of the 6,000 ancient manuscripts. The below chart is just a small sampling of some of these discrepancies. There are literally thousands of changes that the new Bible versions have taken upon themselves, in moving away from the time honored King James Version, and the true originals of the Bible.
Skewed study Bible notes, and biased books will claim that the new Bible versions were translated from the “oldest texts.” That, my friend, is a play on words. They were translated from the texts on the oldest materials, yes, because no one would touch those corrupted texts, so they didn’t wear out. However, the oldest words are the texts underlying the King James Bible, NOT the new Bible versions.
Another devious thing that some study Bibles and related books will do, is say that certain new versions are translated from the "majority texts," when in fact they are not. In today's corrupted science of textual criticism, many scholars refer to the minority Alexandrian texts as the "majority." They claim that the Antiochian line cannot be the majority, because 99% of the texts say the same thing, therefore all must have come from one source. These scholars are right on part of that - the 6000 manuscripts did come from one source - the ORIGINALS. The scholars disregard the true majority manuscripts that underlie the KJV, and instead call the handful of corrupted manuscripts underlying the NIV, ESV, and others, as "the majority." It's a deceptive word game, calling the minority the majority. Look out for Study Bibles that are King James, but have notes that side with the new versions, and say "the majority texts say..." They are playing the word game mentioned above.
Take a look at the below chart, and decide which Bible you will trust:Verse King James Version New Bible Versions Psalm 10:4-5 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. - NIV and other new Bible versions Proverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. - NASB and other new Bible versions Psalm 29:9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" - NIV and other new Bible versions Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD {subject = words of the Lord} are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The words of the LORD {subject = words of the Lord} are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. -ESV and other new Bible versions 1 John 5:7-8 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. - NIV and other new Bible versions Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. THIS VERSE IS OMITTED from the NIV and many other new Bible versions. Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. THIS VERSE IS OMITTED from the NIV and many other new Bible versions. Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. -NASB and other new Bible versions Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! -HCSB and other new Bible versions Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. -ESV and other new Bible versions Genesis 3:15 (first Bible prophecy of Christ) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel. -the Roman Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible (not a new version, but corrupt, none-the-less) Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. But Jesus answered him, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone. -HCSB and other new Bible versions Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" -NIV and other new Bible versions John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. -NASB and other new Bible versions Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. THIS VERSE IS OMMITED from the ESV and other new Bible versions Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -ESV and other new Bible versions 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. -NIV and other new Bible versions 1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. -ESV and other new Bible versions 1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now. -HCSB and other new Bible versions Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it -ESV and other new Bible versions 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner - Good As New Translation John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. -New World Translation James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - NIV and other new Bible versions Joshua 15:18b and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? As she sat on the ass, she broke wind, and Caleb asked her, 'What did you mean by that?' - New English Bible, First Edition
The above chart is just a small sampling. There are literally thousands of changes like the above.
"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." -Revelation 22:19
What about the New King James Version? I've heard people ask that question a lot. Here is a good article about that.
What about other versions not mentioned in this article? A good start, is to look up the verses in the above chart, and see how they rate against the King James Version.
