Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” | Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” |
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved: with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. | But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. |
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For this day in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior who is Christ, the Lord. | The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! |
This is the end of my teaching. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for that is the responsibility of everyone. | That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. |
Remember this: if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously as well. | Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. |
This is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. | This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. |
Come to your senses and sin no more. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. | Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all. |
Then I came to realize that all toil and skill in work derive from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chase after the wind. | Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. |
Therefore, we fasted and prayed to God to grant us a safe journey, and he answered our prayer. | So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. |
Rejoice always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. | Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. |
And I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it. | Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. |
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. | Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. |
For from the beginning you have heard the message that we should love one another. | This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. |
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. | I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. |
To these God chose to make known how rich is the priceless glory that this mystery brings to the Gentiles—Christ in you, your hope of glory. | For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. |
For I know that through your prayers and with the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in deliverance for me. | For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. |
One who is covetous will never be satisfied with money, nor will the lover of wealth be content with gain. This too is vanity. | Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! |
For everyone born of God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. | For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. |
Go and learn what this text means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. | Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” |
This is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ | Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. |
I am confident of this: that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. | And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. |
God’s love was revealed to us in this way: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. | God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. |
All you need to do is to say ‘Yes’ if you mean ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ if you mean ‘No.’ Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. | Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. |
This saying can be trusted: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him. | This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. |
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. |