Bible Translations: ESV

The ESV Bible is one that I had never really used, as I grew up in a church that used NIV.  I did not have much experience with other translations of the Bible.  We did have a King James Bible in the house, and I learned Psalm 23 from it because I liked the way the words flowed better (must have been the early poet in me).

I had decided to buy an ESV, but couldn't really find a good reason to do it until a couple weeks ago when one of my classes required me to read three separate translations of the gospels.  So, I bought an ESV Study Bible.  I am impressed with all the maps, and footnotes in it (much like I was with my worn NIV Study Bible.  I find the introduction and explanation at the beginning to be  a fascinating look at how the translation committees determine how to translate various Hebrew and Greek words and meanings.

I haven't noticed significant differences from the NIV, but I haven't really compared line to line or verse to verse.  Hopefully, after I read each gospel in each translation, I'll have a better idea how the two differ. 

Now, I need to come up with another translation to use.  I like the New Living Translation (NLT) and have found it to differ from the NIV, usually in a more understandable manner.

What Bible Translations do you like?  Why?  Is which translation you use something you ever think about?