My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. | In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. |
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. | For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. |
|
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” | Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” |
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. | If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. |
Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. | I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. |
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. | Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. |
Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. | Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people. |
I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. | So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. |
But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” | He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” |
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. | For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. |
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. |
God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! | Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him. |
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. | And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. |
A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. | Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. | Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! |
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! | Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. |
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? | The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? |
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. |
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. | People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. |
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. | Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. |
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. | So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. |
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. | Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. |
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. | When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. |
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. | He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. |