Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. | Whom do I have in heaven except you? And besides you there is nothing else I desire on earth. |
Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. | As we proceed in the path of your judgments, we wait for you, O Lord; your name and your renown are all that our heart desires. |
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May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. | May he give you your heart’s desire and grant you success in all your plans. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” | Go and learn what this text means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. |
I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. | I am pulled in opposite directions. My desire is to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far better, but, it is a more urgent need for you that I remain in the body. |
You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. | O Lord, all my longing is known to you, and my sighs are not hidden from you. |
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. | Indeed, persecution will afflict all who want to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus. |
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. | My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not spurn. |
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. | And so you should put to death everything in your nature that is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed (which is idolatry). |
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment. | Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may advance on the path to salvation. |
Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! | Father, allow those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may behold my glory, which you have bestowed on me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. |
You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. | You want something that you cannot have, so you commit murder. And you covet something but cannot obtain it, so you engage in quarrels and fights. You do not have because you do not ask. |
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! | If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. |
“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” | Abba, Father, for you all things are possible. Take this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done. |
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. | To do your will, O God, is my delight; your law is in my heart. |
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. | For everything that is in the world— the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world. |
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. | However, those who want riches fall into temptations and are trapped into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. | I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look with desire upon a virgin. |
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. | A man’s attraction is his kindness; it is far better to be poor than to be a liar. |
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 with all its enticements is passing away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. |
I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. | I reprove and discipline all those whom I love. Therefore, be sincere in your desire to repent. |
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” | For: “If anyone wishes to love life and to experience good days, he must restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” |
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. | Those of you who seek to be justified by the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from grace. |
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. | In everything, deal with others as you would like them to deal with you. This is the Law and the Prophets. |