And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. | And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. |
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. | Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless! |
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The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. | So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. |
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. | And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins. |
The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. | The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. |
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. | Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. |
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. | People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. |
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments. | But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. |
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. | So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. |
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. | So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. |
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. | Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. |
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. | You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. |