Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of your opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious and seasoned with wisdom, so that you will know how to respond properly to all. | Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. |
Make every possible effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. | Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
|
Above all, maintain the fervor of your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. | Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. |
I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Repent and live! | For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. |
Over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfection. | Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. |
Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Rather, always aim to achieve what is best for each other and for everyone. | See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. |
Let no one delude himself. If anyone among you considers himself to be wise by worldly standards, he must become a fool in order to be truly wise. | Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. |
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. | As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. |
Let your attitude be identical to that of Christ Jesus. | Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. |
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may show yourselves blameless and beyond reproach, children of God without spot in the midst of an evil and depraved generation, among which you shine like lights in the world as you hold fast tenaciously to the word of life. | Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life. |
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not treat them harshly. | Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. |
Therefore, encourage one another and strengthen one another, as indeed you are doing. | Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. |
Through the grace that God has bestowed upon me, I advise every one of you not to think of yourself too highly, but to regard yourself objectively, based on the measure of faith that God has granted. | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. |
Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, the body of which he is the Savior. | Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. |
After this, he said to the crowd, “Take care to be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not depend upon an abundance of one’s possessions.” | And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” |
Love one another with genuine affection. Esteem others more highly than yourself. | Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. |
Do not seek to adorn yourself externally—by the braiding of your hair and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothing. Rather, let your adornment be of your inner self, the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. | Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight. |
Exalted at God’s right hand, he received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. | Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. |
If it seems wrong to you to serve the Lord, then today you must choose whom you will serve, whether it be the gods that your fathers served on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites who dwell in the land. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. | Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. |
By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. | My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. |
Do you not realize that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? |
The end of all things is near. Therefore, lead disciplined lives and be watchful in prayer. | The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. |
Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and allow no opportunity for the flesh to gratify its sinful desires. | Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. |
Remain sober and alert, for your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. | Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. |
You shall keep these things that I command you today in your heart. Teach them to your children. You shall talk of them when you are sitting in your home, and when you are walking along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. | Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. |