Bible Verses
Translation comparison

1 Maccabees 14:14 in 2 translations

2 distinct wordings, grouped by what each translation is trying to do. Differences from the King James text are marked below.

Early modern English

Seventeenth-century wording and sentence shape. Familiar, rhythmic, and the version most quotations you have heard are taken from.

King James Version
KJV

Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away.

1611 / 1769 · Public domain · The Authorised Version, revised to the 1769 Blayney text. Includes the Apocrypha as printed in 1611.

Modern English

Contemporary vocabulary and punctuation, aiming for the sentence a present-day reader would write while staying close to the source.

World English Bible
WEB

And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out, and every lawless and wicked person he took away.

2000s · Public domain · A modern-English update of the ASV. Reads close to contemporary speech while staying in the literal tradition. Includes the Apocrypha.

What changes between the King James and modern wording

The modern rendering is printed below with every word that differs from the King James text marked, so the actual divergence is visible rather than left for you to spot.

And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every lawless and wicked person he took away.

Word-for-word swaps

  • MoreoverAnd
  • lawlawless

The verses either side

King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.

13Neither was there any left in the land to fight against them: yea, the kings themselves were overthrown in those days.
14Moreover he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low: the law he searched out; and every contemner of the law and wicked person he took away.
15He beautified the sanctuary, and multiplied vessels of the temple.

Not shown for this verse: American Standard Version, Darby Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Open English Bible (US), Open English Bible (Commonwealth), Bible in Basic English. Most modern translations do not include the Apocrypha.