| The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. | The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. |
| The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. |
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| I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. | I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. |
| Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” | Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” |
| He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. | Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. |
| Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. | Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
