A friend tweeted the YouVersion verse of the day this morning. She tweeted it from the New Living Translation. Something didn’t seem quite right about it, so I decided to compare it to some other popular translations. See what you think.
And, the text of those, in case the image is not viewable for some.
Matthew 6:33
From the New International Version: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
From the King James Version: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
From the English Standard Version: 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,and all these things will be added to you.
From the New Living Translation: 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
There is a huge difference between seeking God’s righteousness and living righteously. We need salvation because we don’t and can’t live righteously. The Pharisees thought they could live righteously, and much of the sermon on the mount was to prove that even they can’t do it.
I don’t know Greek yet, but I see considerable differences in the translations here. I’m far from infallible, and admit I could be wrong, but these seem very different to me.