Luke 16:8 — Compare All Translations

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

`And the lord commended the unrighteous steward that he did prudently, because the sons of this age are more prudent than the sons of the light, in respect to their generation.

English ASV

And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.

English Amplified

And [his] master praised the dishonest (unjust) manager for acting shrewdly and prudently; for the sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and wiser in [relation to] their own generation [to their own age and kind] than are the sons of light.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

And [his] master praised the dishonest (unjust) manager for acting shrewdly and prudently; for the sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and wiser in [relation to] their own generation [to their own age and kind] than are the sons of light.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

And the lord praised the unrighteous steward because he had done prudently. For the sons of this world are, for their own generation, more prudent than the sons of light.

English EASY 2024

Jesus then said, ‘The servant in the story was not an honest man. But his master spoke well about the clever thing that he had done. People who belong to this world are clever in the way that they make friends. They do that better than the people who live in God's light.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

"Later, the master told the dishonest manager that he had done a smart thing. Yes, worldly people are smarter in their business with each other than spiritual people are.

The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

As a result the master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing; because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light.”

English God's Word - GW 1995

"The master praised the dishonest manager for being so clever. Worldly people are more clever than spiritually-minded people when it comes to dealing with others."

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

"The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light [in dealing] with their own people.

English KJV 1611

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

English LSB

And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly, for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

“The master commended the dishonest steward, because he had acted prudently. For the sons of this age are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

"And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.

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

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

"The manager had not been honest. But the master praised him for being clever. The people of this world are clever in dealing with those who are like themselves. They are more clever than God's people.

English NIV

"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

English NKJ 1982

So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

English NLT

"The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

“Even though his master was defrauded, when he found out about the shrewd way this manager had feathered his own nest, he congratulated the clever scoundrel for what he’d done to provide for his future.” Jesus continued, “Remember this: The sons of darkness interact more wisely than the sons of light.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

“The rich man had to admire the rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the citizens of this world are more clever in dishonesty! than the godly are.

English Tyndale 1537

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this world, are in their kind, wiser than the children of light.

Luke 16:8 — Compare Translations