| Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. | But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. |
| And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. |
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| And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. | And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. |
| The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. | Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. |
| Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. | “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” |
| Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. | If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. | You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. |
| By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. | Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. |
| Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. | Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. |
| Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. | When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. |
| Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. | Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! |
| As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. | God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. |
| As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. | God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. |
| And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. | I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. |
| Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. | So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
| And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. | But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. |
| Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. | Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. |
| Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? | Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? |
| Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. | Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. |
| As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
| A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. |
| My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. | My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! |
| Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. | Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
| When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. | Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. | Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. |
