Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. | Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. |
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. | Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. |
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Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? | Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? |
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. | As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. |
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. | But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. |
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. | I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. | Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. | Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. |
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. | The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. |
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. | A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. |
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. | But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” |
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. | These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. |
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. | I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. |
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? | What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? |
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. | Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. |
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. | Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. |
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. |
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. | But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. |
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. | I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. |
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. |
So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. | So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. |
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. | When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. |
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. | Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. |
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. | Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. |