| Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. | But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike. |
| Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. | Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. |
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| For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. | Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. |
| But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. | When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” |
| Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. | God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. |
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. | And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. |
| God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. | For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. |
| And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. | And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. |
| Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. | The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. |
| The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. | The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. |
| Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. | The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. |
| He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. | He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. |
| I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. | The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.” |
| But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. | Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” |
| The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. | Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. |
| The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous. | The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. |
| Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. | Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. |
| Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. |
| And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. | I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. |
| And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. | And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! |
| Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. | The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. |
| And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. | We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him. |
| Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. | Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. |
| Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. | Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. |
| The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. | But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. |
