NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
16 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
King James Version · 1611
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
16 words · Essentially literal
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
15 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
The Message · 2002
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
18 words · Contemporary paraphrase
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
19 words · Most literal English translation
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Matthew 5:10 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).
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.