| I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. | So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. |
| Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. | So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. |
| And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. | Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed! |
| Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. | Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. |
| Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. | He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. |
| Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. | Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. |
| Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. |
| For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. | Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. |
| Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! | Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! |
| Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. | We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. |
| You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. | You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. |
| I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” | I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” |
| For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. | For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. |
| This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. | In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. |
| The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. | The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. |
| For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. | For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. |
| Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. | Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. |
| The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. | God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. |
| And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” | Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” |
| If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. | Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. |
| So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. | That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. |
| Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! | Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. |
| Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. | Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. |
| Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. |
| Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. | Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. |
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