NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 4:6 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
17 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
19 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
20 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man:
31 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
19 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
17 words
ESV
19 words
NLT
20 words
MSG
31 words
NASB
19 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 4:6?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 4:6 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 4:6 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.