| 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 convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. |
| Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. | Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. |
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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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. | Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. |
| Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. | Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. |
| This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. | When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. |
| But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. | But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. |
| Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. | Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! |
| As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge 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 Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge 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. |
| 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 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. |
| “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 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!” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. | As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. |
| Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. | Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. |
| Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. | Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. |
| Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? | Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? |
| Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. | Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. |
| Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. | Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. |
| As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
| Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. | Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. |
| Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
| Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. | Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. |
