| “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. | You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. |
| God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good? | God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? |
| When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you. | When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. |
| But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. | 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.” |
| What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” | Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” |
| I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments. | I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. |
| Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this. | Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. |
| I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. | I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. |
| A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. | An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. |
| Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up. | So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. |
| “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything. | You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. |
| Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. | Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. |
| ‘Return, you backsliding Israel,’ says Yahweh; ‘I will not look in anger on you, for I am merciful,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will not keep anger forever.’ | O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. |
| Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” | So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.” |
| For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. | God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. |
| Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. | Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. |
| What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! | Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! |
| But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. | But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. |
| Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? | Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? |
| You shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me. | Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me. |
| He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. | Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. |
| He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. | He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. |
| Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain. | Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! |
| So then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. | So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. |
| Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. | Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. |
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