It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to place your trust in mortals. |
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. |
What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. | A man’s attraction is his kindness; it is far better to be poor than to be a liar. |
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. | It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. |
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. | It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior, one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! | It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. |
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. | But Jesus has now received a ministry that is far superior, for he is the mediator of a far better covenant that has been established on better promises. |
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. | Do not assert that the past was better than the present, for such a statement is not a sign of wisdom. |
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. | An honorable name is more to be desired than great riches, and high esteem is preferable to silver and gold. |
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. | I am pulled in opposite directions. My desire is to depart and to be with Christ, for that is far better, but, it is a more urgent need for you that I remain in the body. |
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. | It is better to spend one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than dwell inside the tents of the wicked. |
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. | Your kindness is a greater joy than life itself; thus my lips will speak your praise. I will bless you all my life; with uplifted hands I will call on your name. |
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. | Preferable is the little that the righteous possess than the great wealth of the wicked. For the power of the wicked will be overcome, but the Lord protects the righteous. |
Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. | Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your father, and do not run to your brother’s house when troubles befall you; far better is a friend nearby than a brother who is far away. |
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. | Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, but humbly regard others as better than yourselves. |
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. | I understand that man’s greatest happiness is to be glad and do well throughout his life. And when we eat and drink and find satisfaction in all our labors, this is a gift of God. |
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. | If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is preferable for you to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. |
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. | I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know him. |
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. | One person may consider one day to be more sacred than another, while another may judge all days to be alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own beliefs. |
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. | For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. |
How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. | How much more valuable a man is than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. |
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. | While physical training has some value, the benefits of godliness are unlimited, since it holds out promise not only for this life but also for the life to come. |
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. | Live in harmony with one another. Do not consider yourself to be better than others, but associate with the lowly, and never be conceited. |
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! | Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. You are of far greater importance than birds. |