| My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. | Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. |
| The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. | The upright are guarded by their integrity; the treacherous are destroyed by their own duplicity. |
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| To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. |
| If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. | If we claim that we have fellowship with him while we continue to live in darkness, we are lying and do not live in the truth. |
| Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. | Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God. |
| Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. | Pay to each person what is rightfully his—taxes to the one to whom taxes are due, tolls to the one to whom tolls are due, respect to the one to whom respect is due, honor to the one to whom honor is due. |
| Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. | Make every effort to present yourself before God as one who is worthy of his approval, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, but who imparts the word of truth without any alteration. |
| A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. | A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. |
| Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
| Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. | Wait quietly for the Lord and be patient until he comes. Do not fret over the man who prospers because of his evil schemes. |
| But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. | However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. |
| Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. | Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. |
| Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. | The Lord abhors lying lips, but he delights in those who are truthful. |
| Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. | Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing, but a righteous life brings delivery from death. |
| But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. | Above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth, or use any oaths at all. Let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No.” Otherwise you may be condemned. |
| A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. | The future bodes well for him who is generous in helping those in need and who conducts his affairs with justice. |
| No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. | No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a pot or places it under a bed. Rather he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. |
| Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. |
| Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. | Then you will understand equity and justice as well as righteousness—every good path. |
| For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. | There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing secret that will not become known. |
| For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. | That is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, and they devote themselves to this service. |
| But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. | Then Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan so gained control of your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the sale price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds yours? What caused you to contrive this scheme? You have lied not to men but to God.” |
| Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. | Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful in your judgments, for the Lord, our God, will not tolerate the perversion of justice, or partiality, or the taking of bribes. |
