| The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. | Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. |
| We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him. | We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. |
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| God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. |
| Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ | ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ |
| You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. | You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. |
| I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? | I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass. |
| He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! | 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. |
| The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. | The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. |
| Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. | Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. |
| Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. | Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
| When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” | On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” |
| 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! |
| I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ | I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ |
| O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! | Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. |
| Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. | Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. |
| God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. | If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. |
| Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. | This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. |
| So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. | Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. |
| For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. | You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. |
| Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. | Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. |
| The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
| Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” | Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” |
| I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. | I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. | Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. |
