For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. | Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. |
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. |
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Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him. | Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal. | Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. |
May the kindness of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. | May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. |
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. | Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. |
Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. | Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. |
But the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. | But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. |
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. | Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. |