A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. | Like a city that has been breached and made defenseless is the man devoid of self-control. |
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. | For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but rather a spirit of power and of love and of wisdom. |
|
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. | In view of all this, you should make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with piety, and piety with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. |
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior, one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city. |
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. |
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. | Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. | The tongue has the power over life and death; those who cherish it will enjoy its fruits. |
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. | No trial has confronted you except what a person can stand. God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tried beyond your strength. But together with the trial he will also provide a way out and the strength to bear it. |
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. | So we must not fall asleep as the others do, but we must stay alert and sober. |
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. | A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. |
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. | For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to the entire human race. It teaches us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and in the present age to lead lives that are temperate, just, and godly. |
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. | Rather, I discipline my body and bring it under control, for fear that after preaching to others I myself may be disqualified. |
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. | Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect. |
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. | Everyone who seeks a prize submits himself to rigorous self-discipline in every respect. They do so to win a perishable crown, while we seek an imperishable one. |
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. | For we are not struggling against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, the powers, and the cosmic rulers of this present darkness, and against the spirits of evil in the heavens. |
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. |
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. | Be on your guard that you do not lose what we have worked to accomplish so that you will receive your reward in full. |
I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? | I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look with desire upon a virgin. |
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. | Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by mutual consent for a specified time so as to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you by taking advantage of your lack of self-control. |
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. | It is the will of God that you should lead a life of sanctity. You must refrain from sexual immorality. Each of you must learn to acquire a wife from pure and honorable motives, not to gratify passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. |