NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Psalms 4:2 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
25 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
How long will you people ruin my reputation?How long will you make groundless accusations?How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
You rabble—how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies? How long will you live crazed by illusion?
25 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? [How long] will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.
25 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
25 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
25 words
NASB
25 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Psalms 4:2?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 4:2 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 4:2 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.