In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. | Diligent labor always yields profit, but idle conversation only leads to poverty. |
I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? | 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? |
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The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? | With the Lord to protect me I am not afraid. What can mortals do to me? |
In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh 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? |
So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man 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?” |
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? | What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? |
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. |
How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. | 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. |
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. | Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. |
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. | 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. |
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. | 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. |
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. | Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. |
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. | The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. |
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless. | To the loyal, you show yourself to be loyal; to the blameless, you show yourself to be blameless. |
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. | 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. |
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. |
Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. | Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. |
Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful. | 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. |
For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him. | For the Lord, your God, is gracious and compassionate, and he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him. |
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. | I shall forgive them for their wicked deeds, and I shall remember their sins no more. |
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. | A cheerful heart is excellent medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering. | As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. | O Lord, do not withhold your mercy from me; may your kindness and your truth keep me safe forever. |
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ | 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.’ |
‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry 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. |