| In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. | In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. |
| Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers. | Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. |
| Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. |
| Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. | Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. |
| So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. | So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. |
| Honor widows who are really widows. | Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. |
| Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? | Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? |
| My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. | Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. |
| Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors. | The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others. |
| I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. | I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. |
| You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. | You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. |
| Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. | Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
| Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. | Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. |
| Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. |
| You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. | Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. |
| I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. | I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. |
| Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God. | Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. |
| Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil. | Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. |
| The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. | The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. |
| The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. | The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. |
| Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. |
| But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. | But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. |
| So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. | So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. |
| Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. | Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. |
| For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. | I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. |
