NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
15 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)
for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
15 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
King James Version · 1611
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
15 words · Formal / word-for-word
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
15 words · Essentially literal
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
for the LORD is your security.He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
The Message · 2002
Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.
14 words · Contemporary paraphrase
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.
15 words · Most literal English translation
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Proverbs 3:26 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.