If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. | If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. |
A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. | The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. |
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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. | Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. |
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. | Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. |
When my anxious thoughts multiplied, your comfort filled my soul with joy. | When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. |
Persevere in prayer, with alert minds and thankful hearts. | Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. |
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.” | But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” |
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. | When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. |
A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. | A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back. |
Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. | Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. |
The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. | The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. |
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and offered worship and service to the creature rather than to the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices. Likewise, men gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameful acts with men and received in their own persons the fitting penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since these people did not see fit to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their depraved way of thinking and to all types of vile behavior. | Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. |
Remain sober and alert, for your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. | Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. |
Banish grief from your heart and ignore the sufferings of your body, for youth and the prime of life are fleeting. | Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. |
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. | So acknowledge today and take to heart that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. |
Come to your senses and sin no more. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. | Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. |
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. | For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. |
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. | Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. | As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. |
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. | Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. |
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. | Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. |
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. | If only they had such a mind as this, to fear me and to keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and with their children forever! |
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. | Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. |
Can a woman forget the infant at her breast; or feel no compassion for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. Behold, I have inscribed your name on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before my eyes. | Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. |