Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
Behold, as for the impudent one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous one will live by his faith. | Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. |
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For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.” | This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” |
What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him? | What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? |
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked, what is perverted. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? | No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. |
And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? | Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? |
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. | But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. |
It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. | He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. |
What is desirable in a person is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar. | Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to have quarrels over opinions. | Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. |
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. | See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. |
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” | He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” |
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. | So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. |
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. | I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. |
For we walk by faith, not by sight. | For we live by believing and not by seeing. |
In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. | So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. |
Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” | Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” |
But examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil. | But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. |
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. | For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. |
Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. | Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. |
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. | Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. |
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. | For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. |
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. | The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. |