Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. | Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. |
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. | Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. |
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You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. | You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. |
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” | That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” |
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. | Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. |
But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. | But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. |
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. | You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live. |
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. | Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt. |
As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. | For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. |
Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. | Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. |
By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. |
For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good. | Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol. They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over. Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good. |
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless. | To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. |
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. | People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. |
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” | Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” |
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. | With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. | And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. |
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. | In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. |
The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. | The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. |
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. | Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. |
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. | This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. |
Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. | You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. |
That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. | Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. |
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. | Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. |