NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
12 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Proverbs 2:14 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,
12 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
They take pleasure in doing wrong,and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
13 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
These losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
12 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
12 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
12 words
NLT
13 words
MSG
14 words
NASB
12 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Proverbs 2:14?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Proverbs 2:14 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 Proverbs 2:14 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.