Unescapable tension

It helps to have the two extremes clearly in mind.  The extremely literal is like a pile of bones. It contains the fundamental content of the Scriptural passage, but does not communicate well if at all. The extremely free approach is like a pile of muscle. It has become so much a part of the receptor culture that it has no message to communicate to that culture.  Just lies there and quivers. 

It has been said with rabbinic exaggeration that a word for word translation is a lie (potentially - like going away from the cross beating one's chest ... as a sign of triumphant victory in some cultures, instead of abject mourning), and that a free translation is blasphemy (potentially - because the writer is substituting one's own ideas for God's communications). Both extremes are irrelevant. God designed us with both bones for structure and muscles for movement. There is no escape from riding this bicycle between the two ditches. 

The only solution is to pray in terms of a specific culture of a specific intended audience as to in which direction to tilt the balance.