Thomas Nelson, Inc. is the copyright holder for The New King James Version (NKJV). Nelson first published it in its completed form in 1982, though they first published their NKJV translation of the New Testament in 1979 and Psalms in 1980. According to Wikipedia, the NKJV translation project began in 1975 and involved "130 biblical scholars, pastors, and theologians." The purpose of the new translation was to modernize the language of the text, while maintaining the flavor and style of the translation commissioned by Britain's King James and first published in 1611.

At least one website is devoted to a blow-by-blow refutation of the NKJV on the basis that it could not be the word of God if it varies from the original King James Version (KJV). Most biblical scholars take a broader view of translations -- examining them, comparing them to earlier translations in various languages, and offering opinions about their usefulness in determining what the original writers of the texts intended.

My particular edition of Nelson's NKJV features their "Brown Aniline Gloss Pigskin" cover. This was my mother's bible and was not heavily used. However, the cover, which was not trimmed to the size of the pages, has not held up over time; the bottom edges have flattened and chipped. No doubt a more expensive edition would not have these problems.

Following the biblical text, is a 28-page dictionary-concordance, which includes a list of abrreviations of Books of the Bible, a Key to Pronunciation, and a dictionary-style alphabetical index of biblical terms and key personages portrayed. The front-cover end pages feature a presentation page (for gift inscriptions), and the back-cover end pages feature a color map of the Old Testament Holy Land.

The NKJV, as well as other editions of the Christian bible, are available for free download on the Internet.