Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. | Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. |
Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. | Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
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For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. | God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. |
But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. | The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. |
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. | But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! | But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. |
To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” | Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” |
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. | Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. |
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. | Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. |
Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he. | Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he. |
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! | Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. |
So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! | Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. |
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.” | Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” |
In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! | I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. |
Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. | All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. |
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. | He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber. |
As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. | 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. |
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. | Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. |
How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. | How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. |
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. | Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. |
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. | Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. |
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. | Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. |