Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. | Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. |
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. | And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. |
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. |
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. | Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. |
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! | Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. |
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. | Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. |
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. | And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. |
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. | Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. |
Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes. | Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes. |
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. | Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. |
Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. | Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. |
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. | This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. |
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. | But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. |
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. | Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. |
Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! | Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. |
Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. | Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. |
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. | But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. |
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. | My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. |
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. | So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. |
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. | Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. |
We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. | Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. |
As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. | But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. |
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. |
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. |
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” | “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” |
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