| By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. | This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. |
| And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. | When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. |
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| The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. |
| Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. | Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. |
| This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. | As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. |
| This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. | As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. |
| Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. | Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. |
| By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. |
| Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. | Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. |
| But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. | But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. |
| Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. | Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. |
| As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. | The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. |
| And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. | I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. |
| Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. | “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” |
| Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. | Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
| And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. | You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. |
| Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. | As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. |
| Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. | Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. |
| My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. | My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. |
| Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? | Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? |
| Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. | Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
| Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. | Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. |
