| Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. | Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. |
| What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? |
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| Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. | Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin. |
| They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. | For they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. |
| But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. | “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. |
| Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. | Honor widows who are really widows. |
| Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. | It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. |
| Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. | Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart. |
| The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. | To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper. |
| Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. | But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. |
| Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. | And those who are in the flesh cannot please God. |
| Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. | Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. |
| Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. |
| But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. | Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love. |
| Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. |
| I can do all this through him who gives me strength. | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. |
| But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. | But the one who endures to the end will be saved. |
| Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. | Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. |
| You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. | Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. |
| Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. | Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. |
| Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. | Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. |
| 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. | For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. |
| But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. | But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
| And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. | The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. |
| Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. | Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. |
