| You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. | When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. |
| Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. | He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. |
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| Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. | God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. |
| So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. | So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. |
| What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! | Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! |
| Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. | One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty. |
| But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. | But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. |
| Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. | Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. |
| Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. | Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. |
| Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. | Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. |
| For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. | Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. |
| This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. | In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. |
| For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. | If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. |
| The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. | So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. |
| By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. | The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. |
| Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. | The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. |
| Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. | So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. |
| Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. | Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. |
| Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. | So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. |
| For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. | Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. |
| So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” | So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” |
| And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. | And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! |
| Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” | Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” |
| Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? | Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? |
