| “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. | “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not allow myself to be dominated by anything. |
| However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. | Nevertheless, do not rejoice in the knowledge that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice rather that your names are inscribed in heaven. |
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| You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. | You are all-beautiful, my love, without the slightest blemish. |
| Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. |
| The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. | The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God. |
| What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! | What then? Should we sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Of course not! |
| The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. | The precepts of the Lord are right, causing the heart to rejoice. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving light to the eyes. |
| Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. | Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them can fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth far more than any number of sparrows. |
| Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. |
| Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. | Blessed are those who observe his statutes and seek him with their whole heart. |
| He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” | Jesus replied, “Blessed, rather, are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” |
| For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. | For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer. However, the face of the Lord is set against those who do evil. |
| I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” | I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” |
| Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | Pleasing words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and affording health to the body. |
| I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass. | I, I alone, am the one who comforts you. Why then do you fear mortal men who must die, human beings who must perish like grass? |
| By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. | This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another. |
| Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. | Where can I go to hide from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I take my rest in the netherworld, you are also there. |
| The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | The whispers of a gossiper are tasty morsels that corrode one’s inner being. |
| “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” | Come now and let us discuss this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow. Though they are as red as crimson, they shall become as white as wool. |
| He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. | He is a rock, his deeds are perfect, and all of his ways are just. He is a God of truth who does no wrong; he is just and upright. |
| What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? | What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? |
| All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. | Every word you utter is true, and all your righteous judgments are everlasting. |
| Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. | The words of a wise man win favor, but a fool’s tongue is his undoing. |
| You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. | You have already been cleansed by the word I have spoken to you. |
| Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. | Fix your thoughts on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. |
