Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
So if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there. If they say, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. | So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. |
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Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. |
The misfortunes of the righteous man are many, but the Lord delivers him, from all of them. | The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. |
After he said this, he was lifted up as they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. | After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. |
I urge you, brethren, to watch out for those who incite dissensions and obstacles in opposition to the teaching that you have learned. Take care to avoid them. | And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. |
When you fix your gaze upon it, it is gone before you realize it. For it suddenly sprouts wings and flies up to the sky like an eagle. | In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. |
I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You know no God but me, nor any savior other than me. | I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior. |
Banish grief from your heart and ignore the sufferings of your body, for youth and the prime of life are fleeting. | So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. |
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. | Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
But for you who fear my name the sun of justice will arise with its healing rays. You will emerge leaping like calves released from the stall. | But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. |
When you call out to me and come forth and pray to me, I will listen to you. | In those days when you pray, I will listen. |
Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. | 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. |
Until a spirit from on high is poured out upon us, and the wilderness becomes an orchard and the fruitful field becomes a forest. | Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. |
For I know that through your prayers and with the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in deliverance for me. | For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. |
Have mercy on me, O God, in accord with your kindness; in your abundant compassion wipe away my offenses. Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. | Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. |
Anyone who is victorious will be dressed like these in white robes, and I shall not blot his name from the book of life. Rather, I shall acknowledge it in the presence of my Father and his angels. | All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. |
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, ‘Streams of living water shall flow from within him.’ | Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ |
Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. | Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
So shall my word be that issues forth from my mouth. It will not return to me unfulfilled, but it will accomplish my purpose and achieve what I sent it forth to do. | It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. |
The Lord God made clothing for the man and woman out of animal skins and he clothed them. | And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. |
Because the sentence for committing an evil act is not carried out quickly, people’s hearts are prone to act wickedly. | When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. |
Entrust everything that you do to the Lord, and your plans will turn out to be successful. | Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. |
Even if an army encamps against me, my heart will not succumb to fear; even if war breaks out against me, I will not have my trust shaken. | Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. |
And my God will fully supply all your needs out of the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. | And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. |