| When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. | And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. |
| Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. | The fear of others will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is secure. |
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| 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. | Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect. |
| 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. | Who among you is wise and understanding? Prove by your good life that your works are done with the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. | This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another. |
| Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. | Produce good fruit as proof of your repentance. |
| This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. | By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. |
| But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. | Test everything, and hold fast to what is good. Avoid every form of evil. |
| Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. | Repent and renounce all your transgressions. Otherwise your iniquity will prove to be your downfall. |
| As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. | The way of God is blameless, and the Lord’s promise proves true; he is a shield to all who flee to him for safety. |
| As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. | The way of God is blameless; the Lord’s promise has proved true. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. |
| 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. | I intend to prove the holiness of my great name which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. Thus, the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I will display my holiness in their sight. |
| “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.” | Bring the tithes in full into the treasury so that there may be food in my house. Put me thus to the test, says the Lord of hosts, and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down blessings upon you without measure. |
| 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. | Therefore, brethren, be diligent in providing a firm foundation for your call and election. If you do this, you will never stumble, and you will receive a glorious welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
| 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. | You might say to yourself, “How can we know that the Lord did not speak the message?” If what the prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord is not true and it does not happen, then the message was not proclaimed by the Lord. The prophet has spoken presumptuously, you should not fear him. |
| As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. | As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the wits of his neighbor. |
| Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. | Hatred stirs up strife, but love overlooks all offenses. |
| Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. | Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness, but sin degrades any people. |
| Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? | Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? |
| Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. | Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
| Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. | Authority will be granted to the diligent, but the lazy will be enslaved. |
| As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. | Just as water reflects one’s face, so does one human heart reflect another. |
| Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. | A man’s pride will bring him low, but lowly souls will rise to honor. |
| Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. |
| Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. | Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. |
