| They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. | All of these were constantly engaged in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. |
| I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. | I also ask that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing. They should be adorned not with braided hair or with gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is fitting for women who profess their reverence for God. |
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| Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. | Let no one deceive you in any way. That Day cannot come before the final rebellion occurs and the lawless one is revealed, the son of destruction. He is the adversary who sets himself in opposition to, and exalts himself above, every so-called god or object of worship, and who even seats himself in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. |
| The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” | But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he promised he would be. Come and see the place where he lay.” |
| They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. | They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and offered worship and service to the creature rather than to the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices. Likewise, men gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameful acts with men and received in their own persons the fitting penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since these people did not see fit to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their depraved way of thinking and to all types of vile behavior. |
| But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. | But he was pierced for our offenses and crushed for our iniquity; the punishment that made us whole fell upon him, and by his bruises we have been healed. |
| Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. | Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I made no attempt to conceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my offenses to the Lord,” and you removed the guilt of my sin. Selah |
| For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | No prophecy ever came from human initiative. Rather, when people spoke as messengers of God, they did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. |
| Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. | Be joyful in your hope. Be patient in times of affliction. Persevere in prayer. |
| Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. | Go, and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same thing. After that, I will go to the king—against the law. And if I perish, I perish! |
| Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. | Let no one regard you with contempt because of your youth, but serve as an example to the believers in your speech and conduct, in your love, your faith, and your purity. |
| Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. | Finally, find your strength in the Lord and in his mighty power. |
| Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God. |
| It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to place your trust in mortals. |
| I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. | I rejoice in following your statutes more than I would rejoice in endless riches. |
| Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. | Do not let your hearts be troubled. You place your trust in God. Trust also in me. |
| Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. | Whoever feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me and I dwell in him. |
| The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. | The Lord is righteous in all his ways and merciful in everything he does. |
| Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. | Put your trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be secure. |
| And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. | We have come to know and to believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. |
| For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. | Just as in Adam all die, so all will be brought to life in Christ. |
| Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. | Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. |
| This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. | This is how we can be certain that we abide in him and that he abides in us: he has given us a share in his Spirit. |
| You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. | As for you, my child, take strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. |
| If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. | God abides in anyone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, and that person abides in God. |
