Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one. | Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. |
Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. | But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. |
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The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! | He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! |
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands! | And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! |
Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. |
In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and your renown are the soul's desire. | Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. |
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. | Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. |
These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. | But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. |
Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. | Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. |
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! | Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. |
But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress. | But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. |
If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. | “Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you have not taken my warning to heart.” |
My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. | In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. |
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death. | I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. |
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. | I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. |
May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. | Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him. |
Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. | The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. |
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. | I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. |
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. | The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! |
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. | Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. | I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! |
I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father. | Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father. |
How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath. | And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! |