Hay:
I think the NKJV is a good translation mostly because, as I understand it, the translators kept with the Byzantine mss.
As far as the ESV is concerned - all you have to do is look at the inside page of your Reformation Study Bible ESV and you will find this note:
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Crossway, Good News and others are just publishers. They pay the NCCC for the use of the text. I believe the NCCC also gets a commission on every ESV purchased.
Read this article and weep:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...19/ai_90989211
The NCCC was going bankrupt until it received a royalty check from a conservative publishing company.
Blessings,
-CH