NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Psalms 3:7 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
27 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
24 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Arise, O LORD!Rescue me, my God!Slap all my enemies in the face!Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, First this cheek, then the other, Your fist hard in their teeth!
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
26 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
27 words
ESV
24 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
26 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Psalms 3:7?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 3:7 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 Psalms 3:7 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.