Renderings of Scripture Texts Compared
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“But he would refuse and would say to his master’s wife: ‘Here my master does not know what is with me in the house, and everything he has he has given into my hand.’”—Gen. 39:8.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“But he, in no wise consenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Lo, having me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand.’”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.”—Ex. 6:3.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“That appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty: and my name ADONAI I did not shew them.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“You sons of men, how long must my glory be for insult, while you keep loving empty things, while you keep seeking to find a lie?”—Ps. 4:2.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? Why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?” (Verse 3)
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.”—Matt. 5:3.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it.”—Matt. 11:12.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”—Rom. 12:2.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“Be not conformed to this world: but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and the acceptable and the perfect will of God.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.”—1 Cor. 10:24
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“Let no man seek his own, but that which is another’s.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“Everything that is sold in a meat market keep eating, making no inquiry on account of your conscience.”—1 Cor. 10:25.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat: asking no question for conscience’ sake.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“That you should put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; but that you should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.”—Eph. 4:22-24.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind: and put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“As for us, our citizenship exists in the heavens, from which place also we are eagerly waiting for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”—Phil. 3:20
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death.”—1 Thess. 4:15.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.” (Verse 14)
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“That statement is faithful. If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work. The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife, moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach, not a drunken brawler, not a smiter, but reasonable, not belligerent, not a lover of money.”—1 Tim. 3:1-3.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“The saying is sure: If anyone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“In like manner, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.”—1 Pet. 3:1, 2.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“In like manner also, let wives be subject to their husbands: that, if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word, by the conversation of the wives, considering your chaste conversation with fear.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“Likewise, you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior.”
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
“Everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.”—1 John 2:16.
AUTHORIZED VERSION (KING JAMES)
“All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
CATHOLIC DOUAY VERSION
“All that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but is of the world.”
REVISED STANDARD VERSION
“All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.”