| A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
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| No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. | No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. |
| One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. | Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. |
| When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. | The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. |
| But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. | But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. |
| Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. |
| The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. | The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. |
| Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. | Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. |
| The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him. | The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. |
| Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. | What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. |
| And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” | “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” |
| From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” | From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” |
| Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. | Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. |
| Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. | Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. |
| Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. | Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. |
| How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? | If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? |
| But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. | But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. |
