Young's Literal Translation. I don't use it for study. I use it to check the accuracy of other translations.
Here's a typical example:
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Cor 15:26 (KJV)
Now, this same verse from Young's:
the last enemy is done away--death; 1 Cor 15:26 (YLT)
Now, looking at these two renditions of this verse, which most closely agrees with what Paul wrote here:
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2 Tim 1:10 (KJV)
The King James Version sets the abolition of death into some indefinite future in I Corinthians 15:26 while Young's translation of I Corinthians 15:26 agrees with Paul's words to Timothy that death is already abolished ("is done away.")
If you don't know Greek or Hebrew, a solid, word-for-word translation is the next best thing and, in my opinion, Young's Literal is it. Young's will make your eyes bleed if you try to read any significant amount of it, but where it shines is exposing ecumenical or evangelical bias in these newer translations. Even the venerable NASB, my preferred study bible is not without its flaws (as I will demonstrate in a later post.)
