I visited a church where the pastor preached that the congregation should read only the King James version of the Bible. He cited the differences in the versions and showed that the newer translations radically changed the meanings.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

I laughed to myself and wondered how he would react if he knew that my first Bible was the Living Translation, paraphrased version. Its version of Hosea 6:6, is still my favorite: “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.”

Whenever I read it, I get goosebumps hearing the longing of God for our love. Even though the translator has taken liberties on some passages, in this verse, he understood the depth of God’s love. The version may not be true to the original text but it succeeds in conveying God’s desire for mankind to love and know Him.

Prayer: “Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your open invitation to fellowship with You. Give us the wisdom to differentiate between Your words and those which are man’s.”