| 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. | 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! |
| Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. | Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. |
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| No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, who has made him known. | No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. |
| The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. | By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. |
| While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. | While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. |
| Who among you is wise and understanding? Prove by your good life that your works are done with the humility that comes from wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| God’s love was revealed to us in this way: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. | This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. |
| For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may attain eternal life. | For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
| Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him already stands condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. | Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. |
| Just as he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he depart, naked as he came, with nothing remaining from his labor that he can carry away in his hands. | Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. |
| And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, 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. |
| Blessed is the one whose offense is forgiven, whose sin is erased. | Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. |
| Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. | Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. |
| For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. | For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. |
| The birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. | This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. |
| There is no holy one like the Lord, there is none beside you, nor is there a rock like our God. | There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. |
| Indeed, who is God except the Lord? Who is the Rock besides our God? | For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? |
| Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the one who sustains me. | Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. |
| Joseph therefore went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. He went to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was expecting a child. | So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. |
| For who is God except the Lord? Who is a rock aside from our God? | For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? |
| The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. | The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. |
| Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. | Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. |
| For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all is God. | For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. |
| Let your love be sincere. Loathe what is evil and hold fast to what is good. | Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. |
| This is the message that we have heard from him and that we declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. | This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. |
