Honor widows who are widows indeed. | Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. |
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
|
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything 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. |
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. | Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
A man of many companions may be ruined, 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, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift 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 as the atoning sacrifice 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. |
Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives 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 one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. | 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 ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. | 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. |
It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned. | 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. 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! |
Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. | 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 is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up. | I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. |
So teach us to count 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 anyone sins, doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, though he didn’t know it, he is still 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. |
Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. | That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. |
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain 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 are ravening wolves. | Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. |
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling 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. |
Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send 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 creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. | For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. |