New International Version | NIV

The New International Version (NIV) is one of the best-selling contemporary translations because it seeks to combine textual accuracy with stylistic readability. It is widely used by churches and Bible study groups.

The translators, in creating the NIV, sought to render the biblical texts as accurately as possible while also using words and sentence structure that would appeal to a modern English-speaking audience. In order to do this, the translators employed a “thought-for-thought” method in representing the Hebrew and Greek texts.

The NIV was created and is maintained with the mandate to accurately and faithfully translate the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic biblical texts into clearly understandable English. Each book was translated separately by a team of scholars to give special consideration to the unique voice of each of the biblical writers. - NIV Website

The NIV is published by the International Bible Society. The NIV was produced in 1978 by the Committee on Bible Translation.

What does it sound like:

John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.