The King James Version (KJV) of the bible was first published in 1611 using a translation method known as formal quivalence (also called word-for-word) in an effort to get as close as possible to an accurate translation of the words and structure of the original languages.  The KJV is also known as the Authorized version.

This familiar verse from John 3:16-17 illustrates the poetic beauty of the English used in this version. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

It is anticipated that a reader must have proficiency at a 12th grade level or higher to fully appreciate this bible. The original method used to translate this bible from Hebrew and Greek was the "formal equivalence" method which is also often referred to as a word-for-word translation.