Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. | Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. |
I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. | I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. |
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Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. | Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
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 thing 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. | Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. |
Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. | No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. |
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. | Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. |
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. | And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. | We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. |
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! | Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. |
Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. | Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. |
You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. | You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. |
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” | I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” |
For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. | Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. |
Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way. | The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. |
For whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. | For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. |
Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. | Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. |
While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent. | In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. |
And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” | Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” |
If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. | Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. |
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. | Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. |
Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. | He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” |
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. | Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. |
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. |
Do not worry 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. | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. |
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. | This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ |