NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 4:5 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
20 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
22 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
21 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
54 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
22 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
20 words
ESV
22 words
NLT
21 words
MSG
54 words
NASB
22 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 4:5?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 4:5 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 Romans 4:5 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.