| Then, after completing their fasting and prayer, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. | So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. |
| A gift opens doors for the giver and wins him access to the powerful. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
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| Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for others, since you know that you will receive from the Lord an inheritance as your reward for you are serving the Lord Christ. | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. |
| As much as possible, and to the extent of your ability, live in peace with everyone. | If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. |
| If you forgive others for the wrongs they have done, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. | For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. |
| Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. | Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. | But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. |
| I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. | But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. |
| On one occasion, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work to which I have called them.” | While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” |
| In everything, deal with others as you would like them to deal with you. This is the Law and the Prophets. | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. |
| 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! |
| Seek peace with everyone, as well as the holiness without which no one will ever see the Lord. | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. |
| Blessed are you when people hate you and ostracize you, when they insult you and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. | Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. |
| Because the sentence for committing an evil act is not carried out quickly, people’s hearts are prone to act wickedly. | When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. |
| God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, but now he commands people everywhere to repent. | In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. |
| However, those who want riches fall into temptations and are trapped into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. | Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. |
| How great is your goodness, O Lord, which you have stored up for those who fear you and which you bestow on those who take refuge in you, in the presence of all the people. | How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. |
| Nor would someone light a lamp and then put it under a basket; rather, it is placed upon a lampstand so that it may afford light to all in the house. In the same way, your light must shine so that it can be seen by others; this will enable them to observe your good works and give praise to your Father in heaven. | Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. |
| You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can be done to make it salty once again? It is no longer good for anything, and thus it is cast out and trampled underfoot. | You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. |
| Whenever you fast, do not assume a gloomy expression like the hypocrites who contort their faces so that others may realize that they are fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. | When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. |
| For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to the entire human race. It teaches us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and in the present age to lead lives that are temperate, just, and godly. | For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. |
| Therefore, while we have the opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, but especially for those members of the household of the faith. | Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. |
| May the Lord cause your love to increase and overflow for one another and for everyone else, just as our love does for you. | May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. |
| The vine has withered; the fig tree droops. The pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree— all the trees of the field have dried up. And the joy of the people has also withered away. | The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away. |
