NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
18 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Psalms 8:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
18 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,human beings that you should care for them?
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?
21 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
18 words
KJV
18 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
21 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Psalms 8:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 8:4 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 8:4 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.