Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. | Do not make gods from silver or from gold instead of me. You will not make them for yourselves. |
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. | Whatever you ask for in faith-filled prayer, you will receive. |
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Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. | Whom do I have in heaven except you? And besides you there is nothing else I desire on earth. |
So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” | Now in regard to the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, we know that idols are nothing in the world and that there is only one God. |
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” | Jesus answered, “If it is possible! All things are possible for one who has faith.” |
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. | Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from anything that can defile flesh or spirit, and thereby make our holiness perfect in the fear of God. |
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. | Dear children, keep away from idols. |
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. | The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. |
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. | So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. |
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. | Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. |
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. | Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. |
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. | If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. |
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. |
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? | What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his very life? Or what can he give in exchange for his life? |
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. | But who am I, and what are your people, that we should be able to do this? All things belong to you, and everything that we have given you is from your hand. |
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. | Examine me, O God, and know my heart; test me and understand my thoughts. See if I follow an evil way, and guide me on the way to eternity. |
The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. | The one who eats everything must not look contemptuously on the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed both. |
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. | Turn away from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. |
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? | Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? |
We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. | Recognizing that laws are not designed for the upright. They are for the lawless and insubordinate, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and irreligious; they are for those who slay their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for those who are fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me. |