Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves. | Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. |
For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. | As long as the goodwill is present, the gift will be acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. |
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If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. | If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. |
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. | The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. |
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. | Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be calm and fix your hopes completely on the grace that you will be granted at the revelation of Jesus Christ. |
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul. | When my anxious thoughts multiplied, your comfort filled my soul with joy. |
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. | Persevere in prayer, with alert minds and thankful hearts. |
But just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” | For as it is written, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” |
When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it. | When God saw by their actions that they had turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not inflict upon them the punishment that he had threatened. |
A fool always loses his temper, But a wise person holds it back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. | Every day, united in spirit, they would assemble together in the temple. They would break bread in their homes and share their food with joyful and generous hearts as they praised God, and they were regarded with favor by all the people. And day by day the Lord added to those who were being saved. |
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. | Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. |
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. | The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. |
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. | Remain sober and alert, for your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. |
So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. | Banish grief from your heart and ignore the sufferings of your body, for youth and the prime of life are fleeting. |
Therefore know today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. | So today acknowledge it and take it to heart that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on the earth below. There is no other. |
Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. | Come to your senses and sin no more. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. |
For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. | Those who live according to the flesh fix their attention on the things of the flesh, while those who live according to the Spirit set their thoughts on spiritual things. |
Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Each person should give as much as he has decided in his heart, not with reluctance or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. | As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. | Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled; be not afraid. |
Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way. | Therefore, let us cease passing judgment on one another, but rather judge never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. |
If only they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it would go well with them and with their sons forever! | Oh, that they would have fear of me in their hearts and they would observe all of my commandments always. Then things would go well with them and their children forever. |
My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. They are not to escape from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. | My son, concentrate attentively on my words; pay heed to the instructions I pass on to you. Do not let them slip from your mind; keep them forever in your heart. |
With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints. | In all of your prayers and entreaties, pray always in the Spirit. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. |