NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
14 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
James 4:9 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
28 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.
17 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
14 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
28 words
MSG
17 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for James 4:9?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers James 4:9 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 4:9 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.