1) Is the Bible Gods word?
Yes.
2) which one?
Any modern, scholarly translation is trustworthy. Several others are also trustworthy to a large extent.
3) How many versions of the Bible are there?
Dozens in the English language alone.
4) Why does the Bible get "revised"?
There are a number of reasons. First, understand that, technically, there is a difference between a "revision" of an existing translation and a retranslation using an existing version as a reference. This is important, as bible versions using the word "revised" are normally completely new translations and *not* revisions of older translations. Here, I will address only new translations (i.e. versions), not revisions of existing translations, which is rare. So, these are the reasons why translation is re-done to produce yet another version of the bible:
a) Modernization of language (makes the translation more easily understood by modern readers)
b) Improvement of translation scholarship (knowledge of translation becomes more accurate over time)
c) Addition of significant source manuscripts (archaeologists make new, more ancient source manuscript discoveries continually)
d) Translation "style" (translations are performed to satisfy a certain need - for example, for very literal word-for-word translations, or for easy-to-read translations, or for scholarly, precise conveying of the meaning, etc.)
e) Money - production of a modern, scholarly translation which fills a niche in the market is bound to make money for the publisher
5) What happens to someone reading the "wrong" Bible?
Presumably, erroneous translation could cause someone could derive doctrines not indicated by the author's actual writing.
6) Are the Bibles of the Protestants and the Catholics the same?
To a large degree in all cases, in some cases they are identical. "Catholic" bibles generally have the following requirements (which are not made by *most* "Protestant" sects)
a) the bible must include the "deutero-canonical" scriptures
b) the "deutero-canonical" scriptures must be located within the Old Testament in the traditional manner
c) the bible must be approved by the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) (in regards to accuracy of translation, appropriateness of comments included, etc.)
Here are just some translations approved by the RCC but not produced by the RCC
New Revised Standard Version
Revised Standard Version
Good News Translation
Contemporary English Version
7) If not, what are the differences?
Another difference between Catholic and non-Catholic bibles (other than the requirements mentioned above) is that some Catholic bibles retain the Vulgate Old Testament verse numbering system, while most non-Catholic English bibles make use of an alternate verse numbering system. More info here
http://www.jimpettis.com/bibles/chart.htm#Footnote8
8) If I was to consider becoming a Christian, which Bible should I read?
This should help
http://www.bible-reviews.com/selector.html
9) how many of the different versions should I buy?
That depends upon your intentions. Personally, I recommend that you buy only one at first. If, after reading that first one through, you develop the desire to study the bible more intently, additional translations will be useful in this regard.
10) I want to read Gods actual words as there were when they were said. I will keep searching....
To do this, you will need to become an expert in the translation of ancient Hebrew, ancient Aramaic and ancient Greek (of various periods). I know of no individual who has attained all of these qualifications - but it is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Jim