Why We Worry When Choosing a Bible Translation

The question about "best translation" is not just unique to the Bible. As I have spent the last several years reading through the Greek and Roman classics, I've run into the "best translation" question multiple times. For example, which is the best translation of Homer: Samuel Butler, Lattimore, Fagles, Lombardo, etc.?

The differences in translation philosophy can make a profound difference in the readability and immersion of the work. I've read translations that use modern slang and colloquialisms that, imho, destroy the immersion in the name of readability. When you read Achilles or Odysseus talking about "every Tom, Dick, or Harry" when referring to Hector and the Trojans, the anachronistic language absolutely kills the reader's immersion. That said, some older translations were more concerned about English rhyme and meter than they were with accuracy. So, the translation reads beautifully, but it isn't what Homer actually wrote.

I prefer my English translations of the classics to be readable yet close to the original as possible. The same is true for my English Bible translation.