1 John 4:18 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

fear is not in the love, but the perfect love doth cast out the fear, because the fear hath punishment, and he who is fearing hath not been made perfect in the love;

English ASV

There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.

English Amplified

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has torment, and he that fears has not been made perfect in love.

English EASY 2024

If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God's love.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

English God's Word - GW 1995

No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn't have perfect love.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.

English KJV 1611

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

English LSB

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. Whoever fears is not perfect in love.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

There is no fear in love. Instead, perfect love drives fear away. Fear has to do with being punished. The one who fears does not have perfect love.

English NIV

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

English NKJ 1982

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

English NLT

Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us.

English Tyndale 1537

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out all fear, for fear hath painfulness. He (therefor,) that feareth is not perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 — Compare Translations