| Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. | 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. |
| The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe. | Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. |
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| When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment. | When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. |
| Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness 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. |
| Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. | Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. |
| By this everyone 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. |
| Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! | Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. |
| In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. | This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. |
| Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil. | But test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. |
| Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity will not be your ruin. | Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. |
| As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tried. He is a shield to 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. |
| “I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” says the Lord Yahweh, “when I am proven holy in you 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. |
| As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to 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. |
| “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be enough room for.” | “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 more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For thus you will be richly supplied with the 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. |
| You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?” When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall 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. |
| Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs. | Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. |
| Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. | Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. |
| 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? |
| A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. | In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. |
| The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. | Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. |
| Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. | The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. |
| Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. | As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. |
| A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
