| Translation | Grade Reading Level |
Readability | Reference
Support Material |
Translation Philosophy & Format | Notes | Passage Comparison Zephaniah 3:17 |
|
NIV |
7.8 |
A highly accurate and smooth-reading version in modern English | High |
Balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought Paragraphs with poetry |
The best-selling translation, widely accepted by evangelical Christians. Purpose in translation was to "produce an accurate translation, suitable for public and private reading, teaching, preaching, memorizing, and liturgical use." Published in 1978.
|
The LORD, your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
|
|
NIrV |
2.9 | Very easy to read and understand; uses simple, short words and sentences | Low, but NIV materials can be used |
Balance between word translation and meaning, with an emphasis on meaning where necessary for simplification Paragraphs with poetry |
A thorough, scholarly simplification of the NIV, the NIrV was specifically designed to help young children and new readers understand the Bible for themselves and create an easy stepping-stone from a children's Bible to an adult Bible.
|
The LORD your God is with you. He is mighty enough to save you. He will take great delight in you. The quietness of his love will calm you down. He will sing with joy because of you.
|
|
KJV |
12.0 |
Difficult to read due to 17th-century English vocabulary and word order | High |
Priority to word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse |
Traditionally loved and accepted by all Christians. Purpose in translation was "to deliver God's book unto God's people in a tongue which they can understand." Published in 1611.
|
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
|
| NKJV New Kings James Version See Bibles |
9.0 |
Easier word usage, but somewhat choppy because it maintains 17th century sentence structure | Low, but some KJV materials can be uses |
Priority to word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse |
A modern language update of the original KJV. Purpose was to update and modernize the original KJV but preserve the KJV as much as possible. Published in 1982. |
The LORD your God in your midst, The Might One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
|
|
Living |
8.33 | A popular, readable paraphrase, at times quite interpretive | Low |
Meaning all-important Paragraphs |
A very popular paraphrase of the Bible. The purpose of the work was to explain the Bible in simple, everyday English. Originally intended for personal devotional use only. Published in 1971. |
For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you with great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you. Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.
|
| NLT New Living Translation See Bibles |
6.3 |
A readable translation, uses vocabulary and language structures commonly used by the average person | Low |
Priority to meaning rather than word translation Paragraphs with poetry |
The New Living Translation is a dynamic equivalence translation based on the work of 90 Bible scholars and a smaller team of English stylists. These scholars and stylists went back to the original languages and sought to produce the closest natural equivalent of the message in natural, contemporary English.
|
For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
|
| NASB New American Standard Bible See Bibles |
11 |
Formal style, but more readable than the King James Version | Medium |
Priority to word translation rather than meaning Verse for Verse with poetry |
A highly respected formal translation of the Bible. Purpose of the work was to update the American Standard Version into more current English. Published in 1971. Updated in 1995.
|
The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
|
| Amplified See Bibles |
NA |
Expanded and "amplified" by means of a system of brackets and parentheses, which sometimes make for abrupt reading | Low |
Priority to word translation plus additional amplification of word meaning Verse for Verse |
A popular translation used to understand the hidden meaning of Greek and Hebrew words. Published in 1964. Updated in 1987. |
The LORD your God is in the midst of you, a might One, a Savior - Who saves! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest (in silent satisfaction) and in His love He will be silent and make no mention (of past sins, or even recall them); He will exult over you with singing.
|
| - Source: Zondervan Publishing Bible Translation Chart | ||||||