| Do not assert that the past was better than the present, for such a statement is not a sign of wisdom. | Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. |
| Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
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| Yet even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are thereby blessed. Have no fear of others, and refuse to be intimidated by them. | But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” |
| Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a resolute spirit within me. | Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. |
| My mouth is filled with your praises as I relate your glory all day long. | My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. |
| In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and barren, and darkness covered the abyss while the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. |
| Thus there are three things that endure: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. | And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. |
| Train a child in the way he should go, and he will not deviate from it, even in old age. | Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. |
| But when the disciples saw him walking on the water they thought it was a ghost and they cried out, for they all had seen him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Have courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!” | But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” |
| When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; nor will the waters engulf you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not consume you. | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. |
| Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases. | Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. |
| O Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you and praise your name, for you have accomplished wonderful things, formulated in ages past, faithful and sure. | Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. |
| My son, concentrate attentively on my words; pay heed to the instructions I pass on to you. Do not let them slip from your mind; keep them forever in your heart. | My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. |
| On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” | On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” |
| Live in harmony with one another. Do not consider yourself to be better than others, but associate with the lowly, and never be conceited. | Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. |
| However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. | But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. |
| The vine has withered; the fig tree droops. The pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree— all the trees of the field have dried up. And the joy of the people has also withered away. | The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away. |
| The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. | The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. |
| Just as water reflects one’s face, so does one human heart reflect another. | As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. |
| For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for a life of good works that God had prepared for us to do. | For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. |
| When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. | When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. |
| Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? | Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? |
| “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. | “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. |
| Whatever you ask for in faith-filled prayer, you will receive. | If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. |
| But the Almighty we cannot find; he is unequaled in power and judgment, and in his righteousness he will not violate justice. | The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. |
