The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. | The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress. |
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! | How wonderful and delightful it is for brothers to live together in unity. |
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Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. | I do not say this because I have been in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. |
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. | Rejoice always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. |
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. | Instruct those who are rich in this world’s goods that they should not be proud, nor should they trust in the uncertainty of riches but rather in God who richly provides us with everything we need for our enjoyment. |
For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. | For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst. |
Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. | Observe the ordinances of the Lord, your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and what he witnessed in writing in the law of Moses. In this way you will prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go. |
Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. | The brother who is in modest circumstances should take pride in being raised up. Likewise, the one who is rich should glory in being brought low, for he will disappear like a flower of the field. |
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. | O Lord, let your kindness rest upon us, for we have placed our hope in you. |
But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven. | Nevertheless, do not rejoice in the knowledge that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice rather that your names are inscribed in heaven. |
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. | Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you and that your bodily health is equal to that of your soul. |
The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. | There is only one thing I ask of the Lord, just one thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may enjoy the beauty of the Lord and gaze on his temple. |
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. | I have told you this so that in me you may be in peace. In the world you will endure suffering. But take courage! I have overcome the world. |
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. | As for me, I trust in your kindness; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has been good to me. |
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. | While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. |
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. | And my God will fully supply all your needs out of the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. |
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” | Jesus then said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” |
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. | Persevere in prayer, with alert minds and thankful hearts. |
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. | For the Lord takes delight in his people, and he crowns the humble with salvation. |
Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. | Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all those on whom his favor rests. |
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. | Let the word of Christ with all its richness dwell in you. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God with gratitude in your hearts. |
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. | In God alone be at rest, O my soul; it is from him that my hope comes. |
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! | Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. |
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. | Whom do I have in heaven except you? And besides you there is nothing else I desire on earth. |