Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. | Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. |
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving. | Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. |
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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. | And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. |
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. | You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. |
Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. | So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. | Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. |
But I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; 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 gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh 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, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on 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. |
Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, 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. |
I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. | Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. |
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice. | Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. |
For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it can’t move. They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak. They must be carried, because they can’t move. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do 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 the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. | To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. |
He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. | People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. |
Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to 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.” |
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge. | With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, and don’t 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. |
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs 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. |
Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge 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 more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better 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 as the atoning sacrifice 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, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the result 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 in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. | 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. |