| You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. | You might say to yourself, “How can we know that the Lord did not speak the message?” If what the prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord is not true and it does not happen, then the message was not proclaimed by the Lord. The prophet has spoken presumptuously, you should not fear him. |
| 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? | If anyone is rich in worldly possessions and sees a brother in need but refuses to open his heart, how can the love of God abide in him? |
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| There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. | In love there is no fear; indeed, perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not yet achieved perfection in love. |
| Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. | Blessed is the man who perseveres when he is tempted, for when he has been proven, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. |
| As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. | As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. |
| The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to announce good news to the oppressed, to strengthen the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to those held in captivity and release to those who have been imprisoned. |
| Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. | Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, ‘Streams of living water shall flow from within him.’ |
| Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. | Bear with one another, and forgive one another if anyone has reason to be offended with another. You must forgive just as the Lord has forgiven you. |
| Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. | Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. |
| We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. | And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. |
| “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. | Jesus said to him, “Go on your way! Your faith has made you well.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed him along the road. |
| Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. | You shall take heed to observe the commandments of the Lord, your God, and the decrees and statutes that he has given to you. |
| If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married. | If a man has recently been married, he is not to go off to battle nor have any other duty laid on him. He will be free to stay at home for one year so that he can bring happiness to the wife whom he has married. |
| Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. | The body is one, although it has many parts; and all the parts, though many, form one body. So it is with Christ. |
| But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. | Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with your whole heart, considering the great things he has done for you. |
| Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. | Exalted at God’s right hand, he received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. |
| When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, for God has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill the vow you have made. |
| Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he. | Who has performed these deeds and accomplished this? Who has summoned the nations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the first, and I will be there with the last. |
| Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. | Owe nothing to anyone except the debt of love you owe one another. The one who loves others has fulfilled the Law. |
| 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. |
| For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. | For it has been granted you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. |
| Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. | Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. |
| The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has been unable to overcome it. |
| 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. | And yet he is aware of everywhere I go; if he were to test me, I would emerge like pure gold. My footsteps have not strayed from the path he established; I have followed his way and never turned aside. |
| And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. | And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. |
