| But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? | For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? |
| And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. | So the Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our own good always and for our survival, as it is today. |
| I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. | I hurried and did not delay To keep Your commandments. |
| Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. | Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. |
| 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. | Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. |
| From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” | From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” |
| Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? | And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? |
| Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. | Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. |
| But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! | But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the children’s children, To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts, so as to do them. |
| 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. | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. |
| The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. |
| See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. | See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. |
| Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way. | Urge slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not argumentative, not stealing, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. |
| 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. | So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, as to whether the Christ was to suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. |
| For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” | For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee will bow, And every tongue will give praise to God.” |
| No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. | Is this not the fast that I choose: To release the bonds of wickedness, To undo the ropes of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? |
| But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. | But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. |
| And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. | And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. |
| Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. | Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. |
| But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” | But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” |
| So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. | Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment. |
| Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. | Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. |
| “Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning to heart.” | “If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of armies, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.” |
| Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! | Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to dishonest gain. |
| Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. | So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. |
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