| They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. | They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and offered worship and service to the creature rather than to the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices. Likewise, men gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameful acts with men and received in their own persons the fitting penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since these people did not see fit to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their depraved way of thinking and to all types of vile behavior. |
| If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. | When anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayer is detestable. |
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| I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. | I also ask that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing. They should be adorned not with braided hair or with gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is fitting for women who profess their reverence for God. |
| They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. | All of these were constantly engaged in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. |
| Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. | Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent. |
| The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” | But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he promised he would be. Come and see the place where he lay.” |
| But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” | Yet even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are thereby blessed. Have no fear of others, and refuse to be intimidated by them. |
| For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. | I shall forgive them for their wicked deeds, and I shall remember their sins no more. |
| Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. | Even when you reach old age I will still be the same. Even when your hair is gray, I will still carry you. I have made you and I will uphold you; I will carry you and save you. |
| In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. | In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself. |
| You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. | You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble. |
| And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. | And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do as much. |
| He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. | He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. |
| May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. | O Lord, let your kindness rest upon us, for we have placed our hope in you. |
| If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. | And if then my people who bear my name humble themselves and pray to me and seek my presence as they turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land. |
| “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” | Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. |
| “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. | Behold, he is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will mourn him. So shall it be. Amen. |
| For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. |
| The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry. | The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. |
| Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. | Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather seek to expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of what deeds people do in secret. |
| So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. | Then, after completing their fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. |
| But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. | Indeed, fornication and impurity of any kind, as well as greed, should not even be mentioned among you. Such talk is not fitting for saints. |
| Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. |
| When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. | Whenever you fast, do not assume a gloomy expression like the hypocrites who contort their faces so that others may realize that they are fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. |
| After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. | After he said this, he was lifted up as they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. |
