For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. | The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. |
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. | 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. |
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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 saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ |
For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ | For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ |
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. | The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. |
My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. | My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. |
But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” | Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” |
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech. | Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. |
Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. | 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. |
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. | So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. |
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. | God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. |
Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse. | For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. |
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. | 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. |
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. |
Cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ | Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ |
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah | For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. |
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. | God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. |
Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” | Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” |
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” | Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” |
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. | For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. |
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. | So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. |
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. | Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. |
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. |