I'll admit that I haven't learned a language yet that is symbol-based, so it's a little difficult for me to pick it up, but some of the things I'm starting to recognize as having seen before. If nothing else, I appreciate the chance to learn more about the word and how it was written. Sometimes it can be easy to skim over verses as I've probably heard or read them many times. It's nice to get a difference translation/interpretation to get a different, sometimes clearer explanation or understanding of the meaning.
I don't know if you've heard of The Passion Translation, but that's one that was just gifted to me by a good friend. I already had the Passion translation of Song of Songs, but this is the whole New Testament plus Song of Songs, Psalms, and Proverbs. I like how the translation is so passionate. The interpreters did a good job of communicating (I believe) the heart of God through the words.
Having a clear understanding of His heart has been needed for me recently as the last month plus has been very trying for my family. I won't get into the issues, but having a clear idea of who you are and whose you are is helpful in the tough times. Knowing God's heart for me helps me know where I stand with Him. Also, good friends and family encouraging help too!
I agree that most interpretations are well done and they do represent the heart of the Father. I see many of the stories being difficult to mess up. There are parables that anyone who wants to can understand. Most gripping, as a father myself, is that of Job. It starts with the Father boasting about his "servant Job" talking about how upright he is, then the trials that were allowed to fall upon him, then God speaking directly to him with 80 plus questions like, "Can you put a hook in leviathan's jaw?"
I watch my young teens do incredibly stupid things, yet they mean no harm. I still see them as good kids and boast about them. However, when I see them doing something that will result in harm, I draw the line and put a stop to it. Other times, I simply redirect them so that they can learn from their mistakes.
God is a loving Father - His word directs us. . .
It sounds like you're a really good father. You watch over your children so they don't get into too much trouble, but you let them make mistakes so they can learn.
I've been doing this a while, but sometimes I still think that God must consider me like a child with some of the stunts that I pull. He probably scratches His head and says, "I don't know. I'm all all-knowing God, but I just don't know." Ha ha. He's loving and patient though, so even when we make mistakes, He welcomes us back. I like that part a lot. The important part isn't the lack of mistakes, but instead it's that when we make mistakes that we own up to them, ask for forgiveness, and try to learn from them as we walk away from the mistakes. And if we mess up again, we just get to try again.