It can be a good thing to read a Bible translation with which one is less familiar. New things might strike you. And perhaps this is particularly true with the Authorised or King James Version of the Bible, the vibrant language of which has so shaped our mother tongue.
I don't necessarily defend it as a superior translation but I enjoyed noticing two particular verses today.
The New International Version's rendering of Acts 1:20's citation of Psalm 109:8, which Peter applies to Judas is a little bland: "May another take his place of leadership."
The Authorised Version has "his bishopric let another take." The Greek is the word from which we get "episcopal". Now, the New Testament vocabulary for offices (of presbyter / elder and bishop / overseer) in the church is a complicated business, but it is interesting for this evangelical to be provoked to wonder about thinking of the Apostles as the first "bishops".
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I have known some Christians who have worried about wishing people a "Merry Christmas". They fear it might encourage drunkenness. I've never thought that likely. And I was interested to see that merriness is spoken of positively in Authorised Version of James 5:13. The NIV has "cheerful".
But maybe even more interesting is how James answers his question with advice for the merry. "Is anyone merry?" What should he do? Not sober up. But perhaps more surprisingly still for us, "Let him sing psalms [Greek: psallw]". Again, a rather more specific and interesting commandment than the NIV's "sing songs of praise." And maybe something to consider next time you're feeling happy: the hearty, joyful singing of the Bible's own hymnbook of praise, where actually there's something suitable for every emotion and mood.
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