| He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. | The one who leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from the heart and does not slander anyone, who does not harm a friend and does not scorn a neighbor. |
| For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. | For all of us fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection and is able to control every part of his body. |
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| Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life. | Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may show yourselves blameless and beyond reproach, children of God without spot in the midst of an evil and depraved generation, among which you shine like lights in the world as you hold fast tenaciously to the word of life. |
| See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. | Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Rather, always aim to achieve what is best for each other and for everyone. |
| And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect. |
| And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. | Over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfection. |
| As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. | The way of God is blameless, and the Lord’s promise proves true; he is a shield to all who flee to him for safety. |
| Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. | Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in accord with the law of the Lord. |
| Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. | Brethren, I exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be in full agreement with one another and not permit any divisions to arise among you. Be perfectly united in mind and purpose. |
| But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. | And yet he is aware of everywhere I go; if he were to test me, I would emerge like pure gold. My footsteps have not strayed from the path he established; I have followed his way and never turned aside. |
| He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. | He reserves his wisdom for the upright and is a shield to those who lead blameless lives. |
| Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. | Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and undefiled is this: to come to the aid of orphans and widows in their hardships and to keep oneself untarnished by the world. |
| Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. | Until now, in my name, you have not asked for anything. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. |
| As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. | The way of God is blameless; the Lord’s promise has proved true. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. |
| Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. | Every good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. |
| These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. | I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. |
| And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. | And when he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. |
| Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. | Jesus replied, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” |
