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I used to only use NIV. The issue I have with using it as a main Bible is that it's a thought-for-thought translation, whereas stuff like the ESV or NASB are word-for-word translations. The downside is that the word-for-word translations are generally less "readable", but I do prefer how it comes out. I sometimes use the NIV to get a slightly different perspective on a passage, as the NIV can put it better at times when the more literal translations have some funny quirks. Overall, a balance between different versions is ideal, which is why I love Bible Study groups, because often we'll have a few different versions between us, which allows for a great balance. In last year's Bible Study, we had 14 people and the versions we had were ESV, NASB, NIV, Holman, Good News, The Message, CEV and NKJV.NIV all the way baby!
I used to only use NIV. The issue I have with using it as a main Bible is that it's a thought-for-thought translation, whereas stuff like the ESV or NASB are word-for-word translations. The downside is that the word-for-word translations are generally less "readable", but I do prefer how it comes out. I sometimes use the NIV to get a slightly different perspective on a passage, as the NIV can put it better at times when the more literal translations have some funny quirks. Overall, a balance between different versions is ideal, which is why I love Bible Study groups, because often we'll have a few different versions between us, which allows for a great balance. In last year's Bible Study, we had 14 people and the versions we had were ESV, NASB, NIV, Holman, Good News, The Message, CEV and NKJV.
The Kill/Murder comparison was just an example, If i want something more open for debate i could pick up my KJV, Not by choice its the only other one I have besides my NIV. If i read my KJV i can run through things myself. But if i just want to read a bible translated from a good perspective i will just pick up my NIV, But i have also noticed just from the very first sentence in genesis that the biased opinion of the middle ages has also creeped into it. It reads In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. My NIV says "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth." While it reading Heavens instead of Heaven shouldnt automatically cause someone to assume anything different than what they currently believe perhaps just provoke further study into the creation and terms used. But why didnt the KJV just go ahead and put in the plural version? Im guessing because it was already assumed that there was only one heaven and in the time of brutal catholic control anything that could even have the slightest possibility of contradicting what they held true. Then it could not be allowed. It saying Heavens instead of The Heaven is not something you should drool on. But they could not allow it anyway because someone might take it that way. Or it just might be generally taken that way.
NLT, NIV , Amplified, King James and http://www.blueletterbible.org/ which shows the whole bible in its original languages!