Bible Copyright Permissions

This is a quick-start guide to help authors, editors, and publishers cite the Bible in books with the correct copyright permissions information.

When you’re working through your copyrights page, reference this quick guide for what to include on your copyrights page to account for permissions for the most common Bible translations.

Bible copyright permissions requirements change from time to time, so we recommend checking with the publisher’s permissions requirements from time to time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

When Using Only One Translation

If the book uses only one translation, use the bolded text plus the appropriate translation permissions information, modeled after this example:

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.^®

When Using Multiple Translations

If the book uses multiple translations, use the bolded text plus the appropriate translation permissions information, modeled after this example:

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.^®

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How to Account for Emphases by the Author Throughout the Book

If your book emphasizes phrases in the Scripture quotations, include the following note on the copyrights page before translations:

All emphases in Scripture quotations and other quotations are the author’s.

Common Bible Copyright Permissions Notes

When you’re citing multiple translations of the Bible in your book, you may include in parenthetical notes the translation being used. You will also need to include on the copyrights page the translation copyright permissions note.

The list below contains the translation abbreviation in bold and the corresponding copyrights page permissions note.

AT: Scripture quotations marked AT are the author’s own translation.

ESV: Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible^®. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. HCSB^® is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers.

KJV: Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Public domain.

NASB: Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible^® (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

NIV (2011): Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.^®

NIV (1984): Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.^®

NLT: Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

NRSV: Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

RSV: Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

TLB: Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

MSG: Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

TPT: Scripture quotations marked TPT are taken from The Passion Translation^®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.