But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. | But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. |
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. | So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. |
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Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. | Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. |
Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. | When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. |
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. | All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. |
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. | Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. |
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. | Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. |
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” | Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” |
Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. |
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. | The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. |
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. | We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. |
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. | Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. |
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. | When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. |
So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. | You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. |
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. | Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. |
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! | You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. |
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. | This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. |
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. | So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. |
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil. | Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. |
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. | I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. |
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. | Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. |
Judge not, that you be not judged. | Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. |
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” | Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” |
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. | But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. |
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |