| But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear. | But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. |
| Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. | Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. |
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| Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. | And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. |
| Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. | Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children. |
| Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” | After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” |
| My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. | Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. |
| And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. |
| But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. |
| For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. | For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. |
| Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. | Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
| Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. | Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. |
| Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. | Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. |
| For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. | All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. |
| As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. | As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. |
| Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. | Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. |
| As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. | As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. |
| Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. |
| When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. | After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. |
| But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. | And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. |
| This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. | My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. |
| He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. | He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. |
| For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. | For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. |
| For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. | For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. |
| Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. |
