In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips 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 are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as 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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Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. 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 praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. 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 that with good courage we 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 think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for 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 only hearers, deluding your own selves. | Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. |
They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, 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, even as your Father is also merciful. | Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. |
Knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ. | 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’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. | Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. |
By Yahweh’s word, the heavens were made: all their army 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 the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. | To the loyal, you show yourself to be loyal; to the blameless, you show yourself to be blameless. |
In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. | 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. |
Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God. | 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. |
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. | May mercy, peace, and love be granted you in abundance. |
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. |
But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. | But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Your almsgiving must be done in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you. |
Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. | 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. |
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more. | I shall forgive them for their wicked deeds, and I shall remember their sins no more. |
Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away 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. |
Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. | Have mercy on me, O God, in accord with your kindness; in your abundant compassion wipe away my offenses. Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. |
Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness 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. |
‘Return, you backsliding Israel,’ says Yahweh; ‘I will not look in anger on you, for I am merciful,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will not keep anger 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. |
But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up 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.’ |