I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. | I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. |
For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever. | Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. |
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Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. | The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. |
I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments. | As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! |
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. | The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. |
Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. | It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. |
Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. | The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. |
The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. | The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. |
All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. | The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. |
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. | Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! |
For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield. | For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. |
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. | The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. |
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. | We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. |
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge. | With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. | Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. |
Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith. | Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. |
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. | The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. |
For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. | Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. |
Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous. | The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. |
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. | The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. |
But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. | Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” |
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. | The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. |
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. | Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. |