| My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. | Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. |
| The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. | The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. |
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| To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | To do righteousness and justice 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 say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true. |
| Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. | Blessed are the pure in 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 all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor 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. | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. |
| A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. | A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. |
| Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. | Better is a little with righteousness than large income 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. | Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. |
| 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. | But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a 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 good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. |
| Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. | Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. |
| Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. | Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers 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 beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. |
| A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. | It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their 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 hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts 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 directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. |
| Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. | Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. |
| For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. | Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, 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. | For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing. |
| 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. | “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us 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; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the Lord our God, or partiality, or taking of bribes. |
