| Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. | Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. |
| The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. | The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. |
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| To do righteousness and justice 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 while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true. | If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. |
| Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. |
| 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. | Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. |
| 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. | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. |
| A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice. | Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
| 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. | Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. |
| 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. | But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. |
| Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. |
| Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. | The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. |
| Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. | Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. |
| 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. | Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. |
| It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. | Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. |
| 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. | No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. |
| Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. | Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. |
| Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. | There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. |
| For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing. | This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. |
| “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!” | Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” |
| 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. | Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. |
