OK, but anyone who seriously looks into the situation, and decides other versions are just as good... must be
willfully not seeing the obvious
deceived by satan
being punished by God.
I guess you mean willingly ignoring the obvious, and yes I believe some people do. An inerrant bible gives a standard for doctrine, but some people prefer to set their own standards.
Deceived by Satan - Not by choosing an NIV but by the words written in the NIV. The NIV supports another gospel, not the gospel of grace.
I wouldn't say punished but rather God puts them under cruel authority. The more complete answer to question is found here:
Numbers 21:5-8 KJV
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water;
and our soul loatheth this light bread.
[6] And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
[7] Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord , and against thee; pray unto the Lord , that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
[8] And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
If a persons soul loathes light bread, then God will send in the fiery flying serpents... some will die and some willl look upon the serpent on the pole and live. If you dont understand the symbolism, follow the key below.
Light Bread - word of God.
Fiery - from hell.
Flying - spirits.
Serpents - decievers.
Edit: Keep in mind that from 1611 until Wecott and Hort there were no fiery flying serpents.