But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. | Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. |
With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. | With his mouth the godless man seeks to ruin his neighbor, but knowledge enables the righteous to be delivered. |
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God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. | For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. |
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. | And the world with all its enticements is passing away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. |
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. | For our eyes are fixed not on what is seen but rather on that which cannot be seen. What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal. |
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. | He is himself the sacrifice for our sins— and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world. |
But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. | While Peter was thus imprisoned, the Church prayed fervently to God for him. |
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. |
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. | Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your kindness and faithfulness. |
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” | But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or how tall he stands, for the Lord has rejected him. He does not see the way that men see, for men look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” |
Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. | The proud man’s heart is not upright, but the righteous man will live because of his faith. |
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. | The Lord does not delay in keeping his promise, as some think in terms of delay, but he is patient with you. It is not his wish that any should perish but rather that all should be brought to repentance. |
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. | Some friends can lead us to ruin, but a true friend is closer than a brother. |
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” | Jesus replied, “Blessed, rather, are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” |
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” | When Jesus heard this, he said, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but rather those who are sick.” |
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. | Even should my heart and my flesh fail, God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever. |
Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. | A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is a gift from the Lord. |
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. | Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. |
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. | In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. |
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. | No one who conceals his transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and renounces them will obtain mercy. |
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak! | Stay awake and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. |
An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. | A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness lies incessantly. |
But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ | The tax collector, however, stood some distance away and would not even raise his eyes to heaven. Rather, he kept beating his breast as he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ |
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. | Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. | This is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. |