A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | A true friend is one at all times, and a brother is born to render help in time of need. |
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. | Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your father, and do not run to your brother’s house when troubles befall you; far better is a friend nearby than a brother who is far away. |
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A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. | Some friends can lead us to ruin, but a true friend is closer than a brother. |
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. | One who despairs should have the support of his friends even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty. |
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. | Hence, be imitators of God, as beloved children. |
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. | As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the wits of his neighbor. |
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. | Adulterers! Do you not know that love of the world results in enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. | If we are diligent in observing all of these commandments before the Lord, our God, as he commanded of us, then this will be our righteousness. |
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. | Nor should you present any part of your body as an instrument for wickedness leading to sin. Rather, present yourselves to God as having been raised from death to life and the parts of your body to God as instruments for righteousness. |
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. | The one who leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from the heart and does not slander anyone, who does not harm a friend and does not scorn a neighbor. |
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. | Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you and that your bodily health is equal to that of your soul. |
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. | Make every effort to present yourself before God as one who is worthy of his approval, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, but who imparts the word of truth without any alteration. |
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. | I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have life. |
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. | No prophecy ever came from human initiative. Rather, when people spoke as messengers of God, they did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. |
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. | Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. |
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. | As servants of God, behave as free people, but do not use your freedom as a means to cover up wrongdoing. |
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | One who forgives a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who divulges it separates good friends. |
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a sacrificial offering whose fragrance is pleasing to God. |
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. |
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. | As a deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. |
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. | For you, O God, have put us to the test; you have purified us as silver is refined. |
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. | Therefore, accept one another for the glory of God, just as Christ has accepted you. |
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. | Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, and ardor is as relentless as the netherworld. Its flames are flashes of fire, an unending blaze. |
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? | My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come to behold the face of God? |
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. | God abides in anyone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, and that person abides in God. |