| Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. | 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. |
| If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. | If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. |
| Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. | 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. |
| In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. | When my anxious thoughts multiplied, your comfort filled my soul with joy. |
| Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. | Persevere in prayer, with alert minds and thankful hearts. |
| A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only delights in expressing his own opinions. |
| But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which 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.” |
| Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and 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 vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
| 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 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 sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. | Remain sober and alert, for your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. |
| Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity. | Banish grief from your heart and ignore the sufferings of your body, for youth and the prime of life are fleeting. |
| Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; 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. |
| Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak 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 live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to 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. |
| So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; 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. |
| 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. |
| Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. | 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. |
| These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. | All of these were constantly engaged in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. |
| Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’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. |
| Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children 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, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; 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. |
| Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication 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. |
| Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. | Keep in mind, therefore, that the Lord, your God, is God. He is a faithful God who keeps his covenant of mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and observe his commandments. |
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