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Should I throw out the recovery version (with footnotes) of the OT and NT? What version of the bible did you use before the recovery version was introduced? What do you use now?
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I used to also be nervous about using the correct or best bible translation.
But after understanding how to use interlinears and concordances, a lot of that nervousness went away after realizing that each Greek/Hebrew word could finally be accessibly investigated. The seemingly monopolized power Witness Lee once had to study the meaning of each Greek word could now be in anyone's hand. As others here have also shared, the internet is also another powerful equalizer.
I use the NLT for devotional/casual reading. Here's one of my favorite verses from the NLT that makes me appreciate the NLT translation.
1 Cor 4:20 NLT
"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
For further study I use the ESV and interlinears/concordances if there is a need to drill down further.
I've also started reading the Amplified Bible because I heard good things about it. It expounds on further explanations of words and meanings from the original text within the verses to save you some trouble of looking up words in concordances everytime. From my understanding, because Greek and English are such different languages, each translated word in English often doesn't capture the full original meaning in Greek. Also Greek grammar is much more precise than English, so some verb tenses may be lost in translation.
Here's an example translation from the amplified bible for John 3:36 which expounds on the Greek word pisteuo which is translated to "believe" in English, but also has other meaning that is lost in translation.
John 3:36 AMP
And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God’s displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage...36&version=AMP