NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Psalms 8:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
19 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Yet you made them only a little lower than Godand crowned them with glory and honor.
16 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light.
12 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
18 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
19 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
16 words
MSG
12 words
NASB
18 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Psalms 8:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Psalms 8:5 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 8:5 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.