NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
James 3:10 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
17 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on.
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
from the same mouth come [both] blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
15 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
17 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
14 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for James 3:10?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 3:10 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 James 3:10 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.