Too Many Translations

I sometimes wonder if we have too many translations of the Scriptures.  I started reading this book and the author uses a different translation every time, or so it seems.  Now I know it is important to use different translations when we are studying the Scriptures but why do we do it?  The reason should be to make the original words clearer.  The problem is that too many people use different translations to fit their opinions and ideas.  To me this raises the question, Who is the authority?  The original Scriptures or the one who chooses the translation?  We must be careful to allow Scripture to say what it is intended to say and not to have it say what we want it to say.