A patient man shows good sense, but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly. | People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. |
The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. One day imparts that message to the next, and night conveys that knowledge to night. | The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. |
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Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites, but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him.” | Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” |
A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. | Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. |
As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. | The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. |
The wicked man borrows but neglects to repay, whereas the righteous man is generous in giving. | The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. |
A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. | A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. |
Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction about things that cannot be seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
Whoever observes the commandments will live, but the one who scorns them will die. | Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life, but anyone who rejects correction goes astray. | People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. |
For no one can be regarded as justified in the sight of God by keeping the Law. The Law brings only the consciousness of sin. | For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. |
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? | If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? |
However, God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit explores everything, even the depths of God. | But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. |
In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself. | In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. |
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them the path to follow. | The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. |
Everyone who sins comes from the devil, for the devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very purpose: to destroy the work of the devil. | But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. |
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. | Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. |
Indeed, it is seldom that anyone will die for a just person, although perhaps for a good person someone might be willing to die. Thus, God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. | Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. |
However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. | But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. |