Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. | Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. |
And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come. | And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. |
|
But I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. | I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. |
Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. | Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. |
Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. | Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do. |
When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. | After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. |
Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” But they did not hear or heed me, says the Lord. | Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ |
I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts. | I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. |
Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. | He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. |
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. | Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. |
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. | Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. |
A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. | Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. |
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. | I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. |
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. |
No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. | Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. |
Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. | In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. |
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin. | Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. |
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure. | For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! |
For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. | For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. |
As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. | For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. |
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah | For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. |
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. | The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. |
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. | You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. |
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. | For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. |
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. | You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. |