James 2:19 In Different Versions
James 2:19 su\ pisteu/ei$ o%ti eiü$ e)stin o( qeo/$; kalw=$ poieiÇ$: kai\ ta\ daimo/nia pisteu/ousin kai\ fri/ssousin. (Greek)
("there is" and "thou doest" are each one word in the original Greek)
You believe that {it} is one God. {You} Do well. The demons also believe and tremble. (a literal translation from the Greek)
The Greek Word for "believe" can also be translated as "to have faith in." The word for "tremble" literally means "to shudder or have chills from fear."
Literal Translations - The translators tried to get as close to the original Greek as possible. (Tends to be more accurate in meaning but is also harder to read)
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (King James Version)
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-- and tremble! (New King James Version)
Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. (American Standard Version)
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (New American Standard)
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-- and shudder. (Revised Standard Version)
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. (New Revised Standard Version)
Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble. (The Darby Bible)
Free Translations - The translators took some liberty in translating figures of speech, etc... (Personal interpretations tend to slip into the translation)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. (New International Version)
Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. (Good News Bible - Today's English Version)
You have faith enough to believe that there is one God. Excellent! The devils have faith like that, and it makes them tremble. (The New English Bible)
You believe that "God is one?" Good for you? The demons believe it too -- the thought makes them shudder with fear! (Complete Jewish Bible)
Paraphrases - The translators tried to capture the overall meaning by rewording in modern English. (Highly interpretational)
To the man who thinks that faith by itself is enough I feel inclined to say, "So you believe that there is one God? That's fine. So do all the devils in hell, and shudder in terror!" (Phillips)
Are there still some among you who hold that "only believing" is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too-- so strongly that they tremble in terror! (The Living Bible)
Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! ( The New Living Bible)
You surely believe there is only one God. That’s fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear. (Contemporary English Version)
You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear (New Century Version)
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? (The Message)