So, I'm the product of a liberal US education system that made it a mission to change reading from a fun activity into a grueling punishment. It was remarkably successful, and I've come to loathe breaking open the spine of a book.
Recent events in my life are causing me to become involuntarily agreeable towards bible study, I'm still sifting around for an app to help me, but in the meantime I consulted Grok on easier to read versions of the bible.
"The Bible can feel daunting, especially if reading’s been a slog in the past. For an easier-to-read version, go with the New Living Translation (NLT) or the New International Version (NIV)."
Would either of these be good for a neophyte to start with? Or is there another version that might work better?
Edit: I wake up all these replies! Thank you all so so so much! I'm definitely going to be looking at biblegateway and checking out some of these audibles, thank you all for helping down this path, god bless you all frens!
I'm personally a fan of the NIV version. It's written in modern English and very easy to read.
What I would recommend you do is to go to a bookstore and spend some time comparing translations. Find one that resonates with you. Being that this is your first foray into the Bible, it is more important that you read it, than to get bogged down on which translation to choose. The best translation is worthless if it isn't one that makes you want to read it. After you've read it once, you can always try another translation later.
Oh, and just be aware that there are Catholic Bibles and Protestant Bibles. The Catholic Bibles will include a few more books than the Protestant Bibles will. If you need help, ask one of the booksellers.