Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. | Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit descended upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. | As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. |
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Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. | Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. |
Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. | Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. |
When they arrest you and bring you to trial, do not be concerned beforehand about what you are to say. Simply say whatever is given to you when that time comes, for it will not be you who speak but the Holy Spirit. | And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. |
If in speaking I use human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. | If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. |
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to do so. | And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. |
I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. | I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. |
Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather seek to expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of what deeds people do in secret. | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. |
As for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. | But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. |
I do not say this because I have been in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. | Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. |
God is not human, that he should lie, or the son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act, does he promise and then not fulfill it? | God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? |
Therefore say to them, “Thus says the Lord God: The fulfillment of my words will not be delayed any longer. What I have said will be done now. This is the word of the Lord God.” | Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God. |
For the carved images of the nations are powerless; they are nothing more than wood cut from a forest, fashioned with a knife by craftsmen and embellished with silver and gold. Then they are fastened with hammers and nails to prevent them from toppling. Like scarecrows in a cucumber field they are unable to speak, and they must be carried from place to place since they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they can do no harm, nor do they have any power to do good. | For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. |
Your kindness is a greater joy than life itself; thus my lips will speak your praise. I will bless you all my life; with uplifted hands I will call on your name. | Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. |
Come to your senses and sin no more. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. | Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. |
Brethren, I exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be in full agreement with one another and not permit any divisions to arise among you. Be perfectly united in mind and purpose. | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. |
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will be continually on my lips. | I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. |
Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites, but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him.” | So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” |
You might say to yourself, “How can we know that the Lord did not speak the message?” If what the prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord is not true and it does not happen, then the message was not proclaimed by the Lord. The prophet has spoken presumptuously, you should not fear him. | And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. |
The one who leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from the heart and does not slander anyone, who does not harm a friend and does not scorn a neighbor. | He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend. |
He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. | Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. |
The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. |
Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. | Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. |
The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. One day imparts that message to the next, and night conveys that knowledge to night. | The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. |