Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. | Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. |
Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment. | So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. |
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For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. | For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. |
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. | For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. |
Seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue. | By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. |
The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. | The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. |
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. | Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! |
Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. | It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. |
For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield. | For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. |
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. | Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. | We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. |
A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. | The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. |
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. | The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. |
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. | The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. |
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. | The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. |
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. | The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. |
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. | Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. |
Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous. | The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. |
You who love Yahweh, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. | You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. |
For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. | For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. |
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. | But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. |
Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” | This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’” |