| Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
| For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. | For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. |
|
| For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. | When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. |
| Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | 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! |
| For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. | If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. |
| For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. | If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. |
| In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. |
| And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? | “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) |
| Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. | Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! |
| For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. | If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. |
| For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. | But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. |
| And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. | And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. |
| For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. |
| I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. | I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. |
| Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. | That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. |
| By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. | True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. |
| I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. | Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. |
| Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. | There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. |
| Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. | My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
| Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. | Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” |
| Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. | We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. |
| A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
| The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
| He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. | Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. |
