But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. | But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. |
With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. | With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. |
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God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. | Indeed, God did not send the 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 and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live 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. | Because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. |
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. | And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only 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 kept in prison, 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 the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life 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, for the sake of your steadfast love and your 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 look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on 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. | Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their 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 is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. |
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. | Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. |
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” | But he said, “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.” | But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but 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. | My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength 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. | House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. | The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who 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. | Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life 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 transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes 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 come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. |
An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. | A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. |
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.’ | But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ |
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. | Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up. |
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. | In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. |