| Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. | Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. |
| Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. | I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. |
| Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. | I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. |
| Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. | In those days when you pray, I will listen. |
| If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. | If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him! |
| For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. | You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. |
| Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. | Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. |
| So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? | I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. |
| And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. | And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. |
| You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. | For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. |
| Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. | Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. |
| If you love me, keep my commands. | If you love me, obey my commandments. |
| Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. |
| You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. | You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. |
| You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. | O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. |
| Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. | Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” |
| Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. | But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. |
| You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. | If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. |
| Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. | Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. |
| I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” | I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” |
| The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. | Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. |
| For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. | “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” |
| Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. | Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you. |
| Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. | Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. |
| My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. | This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. |
Bible verse of the day
As for God, his way is perfect:The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.