| “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?” | Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. |
| Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. | Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |
| For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. | If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. |
| I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. | So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. |
| There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. | So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. |
| For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? | And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? |
| For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them. | For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. |
| A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control. | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
| Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. | Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. |
| He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. | Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
| A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. | A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. |
| But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. |
| Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. | And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. |
| For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? | And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? |
| Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. | And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. |
| A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. |
| Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
| The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. | Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. |
| For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. | The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. |
| A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. | Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
| The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
| Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he 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. |
| Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. | Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means. |
| Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. | Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. |
| For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.” | For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” |
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