Do not assert that the past was better than the present, for such a statement is not a sign of wisdom. | Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. |
Nothing gives me greater joy than 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. |
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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 suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. |
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a resolute spirit within me. | Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. |
My mouth is filled with your praises as I relate your glory all day long. | That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory 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. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. |
Thus there are three things that endure: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. | Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and 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. | Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave 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 water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” |
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 go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. |
Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases. | Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. |
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. | O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. |
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 child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into 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 day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” |
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 each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! |
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 from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always 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 grapevines have dried up, and the fig trees have withered. The pomegranate trees, palm trees, and apple trees— all the fruit trees—have dried up. And the people’s joy has dried up with them. |
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. | The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. |
Just as water reflects one’s face, so does one human heart reflect another. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
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 masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. |
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. | But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all 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? | Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? |
“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. | You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. |
Whatever you ask for in faith-filled prayer, you will receive. | You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. |
But the Almighty we cannot find; he is unequaled in power and judgment, and in his righteousness he will not violate justice. | We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. |