For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. | Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. |
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist. | Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. |
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It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,” and begin to reflect only after making a vow. | Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. |
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. |
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. |
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. | Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. |
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. | Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. |
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. | He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. |
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? | 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. |
Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. | Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! |
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. | You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. |
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. | Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. |
I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. | I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. |
Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. | 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. |
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” | And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” |
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. | For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. |
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. | I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! |
Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—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. |
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! | So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. |
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? | 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? |
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. |
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. | Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. |
See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. | Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. |
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. | No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. |