| As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. | As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. |
| Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God. | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. |
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| Give proper consideration to those widows who are truly in need. | Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. |
| But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. | But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. |
| Does it now appear to you that I am trying to gain the approval of human beings rather than the approval of God? Am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. | Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. |
| “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not allow myself to be dominated by anything. | “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. |
| Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. | Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. |
| And yet he is aware of everywhere I go; if he were to test me, I would emerge like pure gold. My footsteps have not strayed from the path he established; I have followed his way and never turned aside. | But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. |
| The Lord abhors lying lips, but he delights in those who are truthful. | The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. |
| Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. |
| For our eyes are fixed not on what is seen but rather on that which cannot be seen. What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal. | So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. |
| But you, O Lord, are a shield to protect me; you are my glory and the one who raises my head high. | But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. |
| Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. |
| Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in accord with the law of the Lord. | Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. |
| Fix your thoughts on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| What right do you have to pass judgment on someone else’s servant? The master will determine whether that servant will stand or fall. But the servant will be upheld, for the Lord has the power to enable him to stand. | Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. |
| Indeed, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. |
| If in speaking I use human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. | If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. |
| Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. | Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. |
| Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? | Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? |
| Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| Do not be afraid or dismayed, the Lord will go before you; he will not fail or forsake you. | The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. |
| Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. | Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
| And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. |
| Every good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. | Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. |
