| 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 mind 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 had eaten no rich food, no meat or wine had entered my mouth, and I had not anointed 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 of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, 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. | In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits 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 and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. |
