Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel: “Come back to me and live!” | For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and live. |
The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. | The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. |
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“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” | He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” |
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. | But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. | He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. |
Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. | Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. |
Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. | You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. |
O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. | Return, faithless Israel, says the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not be angry forever. |
So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. | Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. |
God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. | God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. |
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. | But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. |
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. | What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. |
Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! | A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great. |
For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. |
When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways. | When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways. |
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. | So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being. |
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. | May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! |
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. | May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. |
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. | By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. |
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” |
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. | If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. |
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” | Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
I will strengthen Judah and save Israel; I will restore them because of my compassion. It will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries. | I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them; for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. |
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. | As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. |