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  • Is the New World Translation Accurate?
    Frequently Asked Questions About Jehovah’s Witnesses
    • A crowd listening as Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount

      Different wording. Occasionally, word-for-word translations are unclear or misleading. For example, Jesus’ statement at Matthew 5:3 is often translated: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” (English Standard Version; King James Version; New International Version) Many find the literal rendering “poor in spirit” to be obscure, while some think that Jesus was highlighting the value of humility or poverty. However, Jesus’ point was that true happiness comes from recognizing the need for God’s guidance. The New World Translation accurately conveys his meaning with the words “those conscious of their spiritual need.”​—Matthew 5:3.c

  • Is the New World Translation Accurate?
    Frequently Asked Questions About Jehovah’s Witnesses
    • c Similarly, J. B. Phillips’ translation renders Jesus’ words as “those who know their need for God,” and The Translator’s New Testament uses the phrase “those who know their spiritual need.”

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