As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. | For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. |
It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. | How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! |
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It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior, one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city. | Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. |
Amen, amen, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. | I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. |
An honorable name is more to be desired than great riches, and high esteem is preferable to silver and gold. | Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. |
No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. | There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. |
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to place your trust in mortals. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. |
It is better to spend one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than dwell inside the tents of the wicked. | A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. |
Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. | That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. |
Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. | Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. |
Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. |
It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. |
A man’s attraction is his kindness; it is far better to be poor than to be a liar. | Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. | Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. |
Therefore, heed my words. Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat or drink, or about your body and what you will wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. | That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? |
Some friends can lead us to ruin, but a true friend is closer than a brother. | There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
How much more valuable a man is than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. | And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath. |
Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. | Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. |
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. | The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. |
Do not assert that the past was better than the present, for such a statement is not a sign of wisdom. | Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. |
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. | Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
Dear children, you are from God and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. | But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. |
Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help and he will not immediately 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? |
No, throughout all these things we are conquerors because of him who loved us. | No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. |