| Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. |
| Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. | Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. |
| Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. | Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. |
| Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. | I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. |
| But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. |
| I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. | This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. |
| If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. | If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. |
| Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed. | Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. |
| But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. | But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. |
| In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. | O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. |
| Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
| Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” | Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” |
| For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.” | For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” |
| Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me. | Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. |
| The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. |
| Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. | Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. |
| Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. | Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth. |
| Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. | Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. |
| Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. | You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
| Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. | Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. |
| You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. | You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. |
| He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. | He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. |
| Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. | Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. |
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