NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
30 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Hebrews 13:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
27 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
23 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us,"I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,"
28 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
[Make sure that] your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said,'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,'
33 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
30 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
27 words
NLT
23 words
MSG
28 words
NASB
33 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Hebrews 13:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Hebrews 13:5 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Hebrews 13:5 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.
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