2 Corinthians 10:11 in 8 translations
7 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.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such also in deed when we are present.
1611 / 1769 · Public domain · The Authorised Version, revised to the 1769 Blayney text. Includes the Apocrypha as printed in 1611.
Literal, word-for-word
Follows Hebrew and Greek word order and grammar closely, even where the English becomes stiff. Useful for seeing what the underlying sentence is doing.
Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [are we] also in deed when we are present.
1901 · Public domain · The American revision of the English Revised Version. Deliberately literal, and the base text behind several later translations.
Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters [when] absent, such also present in deed.
1890 · Public domain · John Nelson Darby's translation, made for close study rather than public reading. Often exposes grammatical detail other versions smooth over.
This one--let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, we are in deed.
1898 · Public domain · The most extreme word-for-word rendering here, keeping Hebrew and Greek tense and word order at the cost of natural English.
Modern English
Contemporary vocabulary and punctuation, aiming for the sentence a present-day reader would write while staying close to the source.
Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
2000s · Public domain · A modern-English update of the ASV. Reads close to contemporary speech while staying in the literal tradition. Includes the Apocrypha.
These 2 editions word this verse identically.
Let such a person be assured of this – that our words in our letters show us to be, when absent, just what our deeds will show us to be, when present.
in progress · Public domain (CC0) · A modern open-licensed translation, still being completed. Some Old Testament books are not yet available.
Simplified English
Built from a deliberately small vocabulary so the sense stays reachable for new readers and non-native speakers. Trades nuance for clarity.
Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.
1949 · Public domain · Written with roughly a thousand basic English words plus a small Bible vocabulary. The plainest reading available here.
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.
Let such a person consider this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
Word-for-word swaps
- think→a
- as→what
The verses either side
King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.