2 Corinthians 8:11 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.
Now therefore perform the doing that as a readiness to will, so a performance also out of that which ye have.
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.
But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.
1901 · Public domain · The American revision of the English Revised Version. Deliberately literal, and the base text behind several later translations.
But now also complete the doing of it; so that as [there was] the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.
1890 · Public domain · John Nelson Darby's translation, made for close study rather than public reading. Often exposes grammatical detail other versions smooth over.
and now also finish doing it, that even as there is the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,
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.
But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
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.
And now I want you to complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness – in proportion, of course, to your means.
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.
Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able.
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.
But Now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
Word-for-word swaps
- perform→complete
- a→there
- will→be
- performance→there
- have→your
The verses either side
King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.