If you want to read the Bible in its original languages you would have to learn Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek (which is a bit different than modern Greek). And even if you learned those languages unless you also learn all the cultural idioms used from the time of Moses through about 90 AD and how words were used during that period of time you still would not get the real meaning of what you read. The translators of a good word-for-word translation will have done all the above.
The Bible is meant to be taken literally when the context indicates a literal understanding is the intent. It is fairly easy to understand when Scripture is not to be taken literally. For instance God is not a bird and does not have wings so when the Psalmists writes that God takes us under His wings or that God is a fortress we know that he is using a figure of speech.
In the NT we know that Jesus taught using parables and that he explained the parables to his disciples in plain, easily understood language. So when Jesus said we are to eat his flesh and drink his blood and then tells his disciples that flesh profits nothing and his words are spirit and truth that he did not mean we are to literally eat human flesh or drink human blood.
If Horsemen Bree believes that the OT is not a Christian book then he is a false teacher. The foundation of Christianity is the OT and the apostles. Without the OT there are many reference is the NT that would be incomprehensible. Jesus' life and mission were prophesied in the OT.
Since you seem to be a Catholic, then a priest would tell you that Rome has to interpret the Bible and then tell you what it says, which is hogwash since we are told to study to show ourselves approved being able to correctly handle God's truth.