As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. | As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit descended upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. |
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. | Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. |
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Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. | Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. |
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. | 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. |
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. | I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. |
Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. | 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. |
When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. | 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. |
Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. | I do not say this because I have been in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. |
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy. | Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. |
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. | 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. |
Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord Yahweh.’ | 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.” |
But say the things which fit sound doctrine. | As for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. |
For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it can’t move. They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak. They must be carried, because they can’t move. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good. | 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. |
Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. | 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. |
Wake up righteously and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. | Come to your senses and sin no more. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. |
I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. | I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will be continually on my lips. |
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good? | 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? |
Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.” | 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.” |
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart; he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man. | 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 guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. | He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. |
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse. | The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. |
But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ. | Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. |
The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge. | 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. |
Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name. | 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. |
When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. | When they had finished their prayer, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the word of God fearlessly. |