| Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of 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! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into 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. |
|
| No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, 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. |
| How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” | How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” |
| By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, 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 deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place 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. |
| God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live 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 have 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. |
| As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their 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 lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a 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. |
| Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only 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. |
| Now the 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, living is Christ and dying is gain. | For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. |
| Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. | Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. |
| Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from 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. |
| For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God? | For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? |
| But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. | Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. |
| Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and 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, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? | For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? |
| There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no 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. |
| What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
| Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a 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. |
| 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. |
| Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. | Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. |
| This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. | This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. |
