NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
28 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Psalms 42:11 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
35 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
30 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
28 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
35 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
33 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
28 words
KJV
35 words
ESV
30 words
NLT
28 words
MSG
35 words
NASB
33 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Psalms 42:11?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 42:11 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 42:11 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.
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