| Honour widows that are widows indeed. | Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
| 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. |
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| As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. | So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. |
| The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. | Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
| A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. | There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
| For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. | If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. |
| Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. | This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. |
| Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? | Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? |
| Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. | So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. |
| Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. | We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. |
| And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing. | When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. |
| If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. | If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him! |
| And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. | At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. |
| When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. | I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. |
| So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. | Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. |
| And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. | Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. |
| Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. | All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. |
| So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. | That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. |
| Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
| But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. | But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. |
| Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. |
| Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. | Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. |
| Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
| Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? | Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? |
| For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. | For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. |
