Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor 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. |
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? | What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? |
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The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall 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. |
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. | But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. |
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? | Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? |
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, 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. |
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall 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.” |
Test all things; hold fast what 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. |
He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And 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 desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. | Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. | 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 renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. | 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 which are impossible with men are possible with God.” | He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” |
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. |
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. | So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. |
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may 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. |
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. | Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. |
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails 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 substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. | Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. |
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. | Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. |
But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. | But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. |
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear 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. |