As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. | You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. |
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. | Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. |
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Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. | A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. |
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. | Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. |
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. | Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. |
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. | I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. |
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. | Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. |
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. | I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. |
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. |
Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. | Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. |
And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. | He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. |
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. | If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. |
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. | We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. |
For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. | For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. |
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. | The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. |
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. | And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. |
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. |
For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. | You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. |
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. | These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. |
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. | Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. | ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever.’ |
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. | Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. |
Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. | Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. |
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. | You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. |