Because the sentence for committing an evil act is not carried out quickly, people’s hearts are prone to act wickedly. | Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the human heart is fully set to do evil. |
They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my own special possession on the day when I act, and I will have compassion on them as a father has compassion on the son who serves him. | They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. |
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God is not human, that he should lie, or the son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act, does he promise and then not fulfill it? | God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? |
Commit your way to the Lord; place your trust in him, and he will act. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause, like the noonday. | Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. |
Every good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. | Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. |
Therefore, brethren, I implore you by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God—a spiritual act of worship. | I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. |
For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven. | For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. |
The Lord abhors lying lips, but he delights in those who are truthful. | Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. |
The Lord has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? Only this: to do what is right, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. | He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? |
Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. | Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. |
Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will persist in their evil ways. | Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. |
Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. |
We have sinned and done what is wrong, we have acted wickedly and rebelled, we have rejected your commandments and your laws. | We have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. |
Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be calm and fix your hopes completely on the grace that you will be granted at the revelation of Jesus Christ. | Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. |
Indeed, the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces to the point where it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. | Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. |
Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away. | Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. |
While Peter was thus imprisoned, the Church prayed fervently to God for him. | While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. |
Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance toward maturity. We must not be forever laying the foundation: repentance for actions that lead to death, faith in God, instruction about baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
Wait quietly for the Lord and be patient until he comes. Do not fret over the man who prospers because of his evil schemes. | 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. |
This is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.’ | This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ |
After he had decided to follow this course of action, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary into your home as your wife. For this child has been conceived in her womb through the Holy Spirit.” | But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” |
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ | I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ |
However, the one who looks intently at the perfect law of freedom and perseveres—not forgetting what he has heard but putting it into practice—will be blessed in everything he does. | But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. |
Then it will come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. | Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. |
After he said this, he was lifted up as they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. | When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. |