A Comparison of Nehemiah 1:4-5

When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven. I said, “LORD God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments.”
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Meaning-for-Meaning (Closest Natural Equivalence)

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,”
New King James Version (NKJV)
Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence)

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When I heard this report, I began to weep and continued mourning for several days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I prayed: “LORD, God of heaven, great and awesome God, you preserve your covenant of mercy with those who love you and keep your commandments.”
New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
Thought-for-Thought (Functional Equivalence)

When I heard all this, I sat down and wept. For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, “LORD God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command.”
Good News Translation (GNT)
Paraphrase (Retelling)

Visit our Bible Translation Guide for more information about the major differences between the clear, natural English of God’s Word and other translations.