The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. | The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. |
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. | But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. |
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I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. | I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. |
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. | Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. |
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. | He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. |
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. | I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. |
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. | “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.” |
I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah | I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. |
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. | So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. |
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. | I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! |
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. | Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. |
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. | For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. |
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. | The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. |
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. | For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. |
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. | As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. |
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. | Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. |
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” | “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” |
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. | You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. |
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. | The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. |
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. | Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. |
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. | So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. |
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. | Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. |
And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. | When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! |
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. | Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. |