| I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. | In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them. |
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| I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. | I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. |
| I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. | I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. |
| Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. | As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. |
| The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. | The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. |
| Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. | As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. |
| Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” | Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” |
| Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. | And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. |
| Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. | Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. |
| While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” | While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” |
| But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” | But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” |
| My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. | My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. |
| The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. | The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. |
| However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. | Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. |
| But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. | But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. |
| Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. | Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. |
| Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”. | Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”. |
| I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. | Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. |
| The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. | The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. |
| In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. | Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. |
| Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. | Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God. |
| The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away. | The vine withers, the fig tree droops. Pomegranate, palm, and apple— all the trees of the field are dried up; surely, joy withers away among the people. |
| A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. | A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief. |
