Let me offer a solution for those who have tried and failed many times. This is not to say that some parts of the Bible should be skipped. But once you have got through it once, and have some basics, you will be less hesitant to go at it with more intensity the next time.
Nelson Publishing's NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible just might be the answer. Try it with the expectation that you will graduate to the full Bible, geneologies, Levitical laws and all.
This is not your children's Bible story book. NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible is a collection of scriptures which are the foundational stories (two hundred fifty of them) of God's interaction with His creation. A handy Table of Contents and an index help the reader locate favorite stories.
Because it is, throughout, the text of the NKJV, it might not be your first choice for younger children. It is, though, a suitable introduction to the scriptures for those who are mature enough to handle the rhythm and syntax of this particular translation. Because it is text from the Bible, there may be stories that some would find unsuitable for those of more tender years.
Though a suitable introduction to the scriptures for new believers, it is well to remember that NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible is not the full Bible text.
This new publication offers the opportunity read again the great stories of the Bible in a modern translation without editorial intrusion.
Published in hard cover, with the appearance of an heirloom volume, it is a book that will be cherished and passed down to others. But, you may want to hold on to it for awhile.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”