NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
19 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Philippians 1:9 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; <sup>judgment: or, sense</sup>
22 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
18 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings
34 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
19 words
KJV
22 words
ESV
18 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
34 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Philippians 1:9?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Philippians 1:9 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 Philippians 1:9 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.