Unless the Lord builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the Lord guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain. | Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. |
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain. | You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. |
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Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. |
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. | Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. |
Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. | Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. |
And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. | When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. |
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. | I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. |
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves. | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. |
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. | If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. |
Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. | You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. |
For the customs of the peoples are futile; For it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They decorate the idol with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not totter. They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good. | For the customs of the peoples are false: a tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an ax by the hands of an artisan; people deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good. |