Diligent labor always yields profit, but idle conversation only leads to poverty. | In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. |
I, I alone, am the one who comforts you. Why then do you fear mortal men who must die, human beings who must perish like grass? | I, I am he who comforts you; why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die, a human being who fades like grass? |
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With the Lord to protect me I am not afraid. What can mortals do to me? | With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? |
In God, whose word I praise, in God I place my trust and know no fear; what can people do to me? | In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? |
Therefore, we can say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” | So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” |
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? | What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? |
Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. | But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. |
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. | Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. |
For they said to you, “In the final age there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly passions.” It is these people who create divisions, who follow their natural instincts and do not possess the Spirit. | For they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. |
For you are aware that you were ransomed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. | You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. |
Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. | Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. |
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, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. |
When you pray do not go on babbling endlessly as the pagans do, for they believe that they are more likely to be heard because of their many words. | When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. |
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. |
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and merciful in everything he does. | The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. |
May mercy, peace, and love be granted you in abundance. | May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. |
Do not seek to adorn yourself externally—by the braiding of your hair and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothing. Rather, let your adornment be of your inner self, the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. | Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight. |
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever. | O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. |
Return, rebel Israel, says the Lord. I will not look upon you in anger. For I am merciful, says the Lord; my wrath will not continue forever. | Return, faithless Israel, says the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not be angry forever. |
Yet even so, because of your great compassion, you did not completely destroy them, nor did you forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. | Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. |
But for that very reason I was treated mercifully, so that in me Jesus Christ might exhibit his inexhaustible patience, making me an example for those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. | But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. |
O Lord, do not withhold your mercy from me; may your kindness and your truth keep me safe forever. | Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. |
The tax collector, however, stood some distance away and would not even raise his eyes to heaven. Rather, he kept beating his breast as he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ | But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ |
Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn back to the Lord, your God. For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and always prepared to relent from punishing. | Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. |
Therefore, brethren, I implore you by the mercies of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God—a spiritual act of worship. | I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. |