| Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the 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. |
| Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. |
| Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! | And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! |
| The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. | The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. |
| Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. | Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. |
| For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. | For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. |
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. |
| For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. | For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. |
| Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. | Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. |
| The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
| Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. |
| Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. | The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. |
| By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. | The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. |
| One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. | 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. |
| What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? | What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? |
| Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. |
| He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. | The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. |
| Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. | Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. |
| He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. | For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. |
| For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. |
| For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. |
| Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. | Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. |
| And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. |
| Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. | Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. |
| That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. | Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. |
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