| The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. | The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. |
| The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. |
|
| 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 did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. |
| 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, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge.” |
| He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. | In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among 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 and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. |
