James 2:13 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.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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.
For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.
1901 · Public domain · The American revision of the English Revised Version. Deliberately literal, and the base text behind several later translations.
for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
1890 · Public domain · John Nelson Darby's translation, made for close study rather than public reading. Often exposes grammatical detail other versions smooth over.
for the judgment without kindness is to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.
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.
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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.
For there will be justice without mercy for the person who has not acted mercifully. Mercy triumphs over Justice.
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.
For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging.
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.
For judgment is without mercy, to him who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Word-for-word swaps
- shewed→to
- against→triumphs
The verses either side
King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.