Honor widows who are really widows. | Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
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Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no 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 man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. | Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. | If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. |
In this 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. |
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells 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? |
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance 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. |
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also 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 is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing. | When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin. |
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you 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! |
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. | At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. |
If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold 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 gain a heart of wisdom. | Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. |
If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is 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 has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the 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, those who 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 you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will 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, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. | Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. |
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with 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 creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. | For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. |