NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
23 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 1:9 — 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 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; <sup>with: or, in</sup>
32 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
23 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.
36 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you
26 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the [preaching of the] gospel of His Son, is my witness [as to] how unceasingly I make mention of you,
29 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
23 words
KJV
32 words
ESV
23 words
NLT
36 words
MSG
26 words
NASB
29 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 1:9?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 1:9 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 Romans 1:9 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.