Translations
Bible translations compared
Every major English Bible translation, side by side — how literal each one is, what reading level it sits at, and who it suits best.
Updated 17 May 2026 · By the Bibles.co.uk editorial team
The short answer
At a glance
| Translation | Style | Level | Year | Tradition | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KJV King James Version | Formal | 12+ | 1611 | Anglican / traditional | Liturgical reading, literary beauty |
NASB New American Standard Bible | Formal | 11 | 1971 | Evangelical / academic | Deep study, original-language work |
ESV English Standard Version | Formal | 10 | 2001 | Evangelical, Reformed | Study & teaching |
NRSV New Revised Standard Version | Formal | 11 | 1989 | Ecumenical / academic | Academic study, Catholic & ecumenical use |
CSB Christian Standard Bible | Balanced | 7 | 2017 | Evangelical | Readable study, sermon prep |
NIV New International Version | Balanced | 7 | 1978 | Broad evangelical | All-rounder, church and home |
NLT New Living Translation | Dynamic | 6 | 1996 | Broad evangelical | Beginners, devotional reading |
GNB Good News Bible | Dynamic | 6 | 1976 | Ecumenical | Children, ESL readers, schools |
MSG The Message | Paraphrase | 5 | 2002 | Paraphrase | Devotional, never for study alone |
Plotted on two axes
Translation philosophy on the horizontal axis (thought-for-thought on the left, word-for-word on the right). Reading level on the vertical axis (easier at the bottom).
Reading level at a glance
Sorted from easiest to read cold (top) to most challenging (bottom).
The translation spectrum
Every translation sits somewhere between two goals. At one end is formal equivalence — translating word for word, preserving the original sentence structure. At the other is dynamic equivalence — translating thought for thought, prioritising natural modern English.
Neither approach is "correct" in the abstract. Formal translations are more transparent to the original text and better suited to close study. Dynamic translations are clearer on first reading and better for cover-to-cover use. Many readers own one of each.
The same verse, eight ways
John 3:16 is the most-translated single verse in English. Here is how each translation handles it.
KJV King James Version | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
NASB New American Standard Bible | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. |
ESV English Standard Version | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. |
NRSV New Revised Standard Version | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. |
CSB Christian Standard Bible | For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. |
NIV New International Version | For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
NLT New Living Translation | For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. |
MSG The Message | This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. |
Try the comparator
Pick any of three well-known verses and any two translations to see them side by side.
Translation Comparator
Same verse, two translations
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
- Style
- Formal
- Level
- Grade 10
- Year
- 2001
John 3:16
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
- Style
- Dynamic
- Level
- Grade 6
- Year
- 1996
Which should I pick?
- Reading the Bible for the first time — NLT or NIV.
- Bible study or teaching — ESV, NASB or CSB.
- Academic work — NRSV.
- Liturgical / traditional — KJV.
- Children — NLT, CSB or GNB.
- Devotional reflection — NLT, with The Message as a secondary read.
For per-translation deep dives, see all translations. For a guided walk-through, see How to choose a Bible.
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Start the Bible FinderFrequently asked
- What is the most accurate Bible translation?
- There isn't a single 'most accurate' translation. Word-for-word translations like the ESV, NASB and NRSV are closest to the structure of the Hebrew and Greek. Thought-for-thought translations like the NIV and NLT often communicate the meaning more clearly in modern English. Both approaches are accurate to different goals.
- What's the difference between the NIV and the ESV?
- The NIV (1978) is balanced — close to the original languages but written in natural English. The ESV (2001) leans more literal, preserving sentence structure from the Hebrew and Greek. Most readers find the NIV easier; many teachers prefer the ESV for precision.
- Is the KJV still worth reading?
- Yes — for its literary power, liturgical tradition, and influence on English. For day-to-day comprehension, a modern translation alongside it (NIV, ESV or NLT) is the usual recommendation.
- Which translation do Catholics use?
- Catholic readers in the UK most often use the NRSV Catholic Edition, the Jerusalem Bible, or the Revised New Jerusalem Bible. These include the Deuterocanonical books that Protestant Bibles place in the Apocrypha or omit.
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