Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Boasting About Tomorrow Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”
29 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
King James Version · 1611
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell , and get gain :
32 words · Formal / word-for-word
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” —
29 words · Essentially literal
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
30 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
The Message · 2002
And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money."
37 words · Contemporary paraphrase
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.'
30 words · Most literal English translation
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 4:13 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).
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.
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.