You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. | Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. |
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
|
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. | Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. |
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. | No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. |
For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God. | Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. |
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. | The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. |
Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. | Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. |
Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. | Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. |
For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. | God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. |
Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. | Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! |
I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? | My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? |
But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. | Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. |
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. | Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. |
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. |
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. |
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. |
For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? | For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? |
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? |
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. | By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. |
Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. | Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. |
For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? | For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? |
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. |
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. |
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! | Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. |
When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. |