Return, rebel Israel, says the Lord. I will not look upon you in anger. For I am merciful, says the Lord; my wrath will not continue forever. | O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. |
For I resolved that, while I was with you, I would know nothing except Jesus Christ—and him crucified. | For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. |
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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. | But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. |
I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you should also love one another. | So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. |
Rather, I discipline my body and bring it under control, for fear that after preaching to others I myself may be disqualified. | I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. |
What I commanded them was this: Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. If you follow all the ways that I command you, then you will prosper. | This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ |
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. | Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. |
I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. | I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
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. | Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. |
I will, thereby, display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known to many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. | In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord. |
I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and listened to my cry for mercy, because he has inclined his ear to me on the day when I called out to him. | I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! |
I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you. I will remove from your body a heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh in its place. | And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. |
Go, and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same thing. After that, I will go to the king—against the law. And if I perish, I perish! | Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die. |
If I have the gift of prophecy and the ability to understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all the faith necessary to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. | If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. |
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. | I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. |
I have not strayed from the commandments of his lips; I have treasured in my heart the words of his mouth. | I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. |
I rejoice in following your statutes more than I would rejoice in endless riches. | I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. |
Can someone hide in a secret place so that I cannot see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? | “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. |
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom should I be afraid? | The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? |
I will make haste and not delay to observe your precepts. | I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. |
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say: Rejoice! | Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! |
I lifted up my voice in prayer to him; his praise was on my tongue. | For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. |
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? | There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? |
I can do all things in him who strengthens me. | For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. |
I, I alone, am the one who comforts you. Why then do you fear mortal men who must die, human beings who must perish like grass? | I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? |