Whoever observes the commandments will live, but the one who scorns them will die. | Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. | Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. |
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For he guards the paths of justice and keeps watch over the way of his faithful ones. | He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. |
A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
He will not permit your foot to stumble; he who guards you will not fall asleep. | He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. |
Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life, but anyone who rejects correction goes astray. | People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. |
Whoever gains wisdom loves his own soul; one who cherishes understanding will prosper. | To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. |
All those who keep his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And the proof that he abides in us is the Spirit that he has given us. | Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. |
Keep in mind, therefore, that the Lord, your God, is God. He is a faithful God who keeps his covenant of mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and observe his commandments. | Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. |
Anyone who has received my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. | Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. |
Dear children, keep away from idols. | Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. |
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | If you love me, obey my commandments. |
Then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. | Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! |
Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. | Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. |
Therefore, keep watch, for you do not know the day when your Lord is coming. | So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. |
Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
I keep the Lord always before me, for with him at my right hand I will never fall. | I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. |
Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. | Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
One who gossips reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps things hidden. | A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
O Lord, do not withhold your mercy from me; may your kindness and your truth keep me safe forever. | Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. |
I will instruct you and guide you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and keep my eyes upon you. | The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” |
For no one can be regarded as justified in the sight of God by keeping the Law. The Law brings only the consciousness of sin. | For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. |
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. | When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. |
Keep falsehood and lying far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but simply provide me with the food that I need. | First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. |
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |