| You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. | You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. |
| For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. | The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. |
|
| Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” | Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. |
| Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. | Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
| The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. | The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. |
| Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. | Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. |
| Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” | I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” |
| Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. | By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. |
| I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. | 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. |
| Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” | He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” |
| God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. |
| What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. | 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. |
| Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
| “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” | “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.” |
| The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. | 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 you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. | A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. |
| Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? | What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? |
| You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. | Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. |
| So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. | Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. |
| Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! | What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! |
| Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? | Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? |
| Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. | Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. |
