For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. | For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. |
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. | For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. |
|
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? | God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? |
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? | What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? |
Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. | Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! |
I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? | I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass. |
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. | Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. |
As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. | As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. |
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” | However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him. |
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. | For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. |
There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. | In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. |
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. | For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. |
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. | Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. |
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. | Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. |
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. | He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. |
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. | Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. |
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. | Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. |
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. | So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. |
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. | For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. |
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. | In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. |
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. | If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. |
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. | The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. |
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. | For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. |
And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. | God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. |