The King James Version (otherwise known as the Authorized Version) was translated in 1611, after Protestants had gained favour with the ruling monarch in England (King James I) who commanded that this work should be done. The translators took account of all the previous versions (as there were a lot of them) and also the Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Greek Received Text (Textus Receptus). While some view this version as using archaic and hard to understand language, there is a beauty about it that is missing from the modern versions.

Please note the New King James version and the New Century version of the Bible are copyright of Thomas Nelson, Inc. and are used with their kind permission. Their website is www.thomasnelson.com
The New International version is copyright of the International Bible Society and is used with their kind permission. Their website is: http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/niv
The English Standard version is copyright of Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers and is used with their kind permission. Their website is: http://www.gnpcb.org/home/esv
The New Revised Standard version is copyright of the National Council of Churches (NCC) and is used with their kind permission. Their website is: http://ncccusa.org/newbtu/nrsvtypes.html