| That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? | Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? |
| The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. | The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. |
|
| So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” | The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” |
| You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. | You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. |
| 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. | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. |
| But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” | But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” |
| Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. | I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. |
| But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. | And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. |
| So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. | So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. |
| So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. | Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. |
| Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. | Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. |
| When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. | You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. |
| Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. | Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. |
| If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. | If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. |
| Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. | It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. |
| This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. | My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. |
| Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! | Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. |
| Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? | Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! |
| Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. | Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. |
| Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. | Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. |
| You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. | Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. |
| You must keep my Sabbath days of rest and show reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord. | Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord. |
| I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. | I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. |
| But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. | As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. |
| That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. | Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. |
