| 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. | Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. |
| 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 complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life. |
|
| 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. | Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. |
| See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. | See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. |
| 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. | Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. |
| And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. | Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. |
| 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. | God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. |
| Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. | Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions 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. | I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought 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. | But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. |
| He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. | He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. |
| 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. | God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. |
| 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. | Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. |
| Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. | You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. |
| And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. | In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. |
| 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 you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! |
| 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. | Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. |
| 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 told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” |
| With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. | To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. |
