Wives and Husbands (I Peter 3:1-7) New Living and Good News Translations)

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 

2  by observing your pure and reverent lives.

3  Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.

4  You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 

5  This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 

6  For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

7  In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  In the same way you wives must submit yourselves to your husbands, so that if any of them do not believe God's word, your conduct will win them over to believe. It will not be necessary for you to say a word,

2  because they will see how pure and reverent your conduct is. 

3  You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful, such as the way you fix your hair, or the jewelry you put on, or the dresses you wear. 

4  Instead, your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God's sight. 

5  For the devout women of the past who placed their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful by submitting themselves to their husbands. 

6  Sarah was like that; she obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are now her daughters if you do good and are not afraid of anything.

7  In the same way you husbands must live with your wives with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God's gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

The Example Of Christ's Suffering (I Peter 2:18-25) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

18  You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect.  Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 

19  For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.

20  Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

21  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered  for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22  He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

23  He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

24  He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.

25  Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

18  You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 

19  God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will. 

20  For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it. 

21  It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. 

22  He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. 

23  When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. 

24  Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. 

25  You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.

Living Godly In A Pagan Society (I Peter 2:11-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
11   Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
12   Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13  Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
14  or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
16  Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
17  Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
11  I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul. 
12  Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
13  For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor, who is the supreme authority, 
14  and to the governors, who have been appointed by him to punish the evildoers and to praise those who do good. 
15  For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do.
16  Live as free people; do not, however, use your freedom to cover up any evil, but live as God's slaves. ¹
17  Respect everyone, love other believers, honor God, and respect the Emperor.

The Living Stone And The Holy Nation (I Peter 2:1-10) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION\
1    So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
2    Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
3    now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 
4    You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5    And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6    As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
7    Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
8    And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”  They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9    But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.  Once you received no mercy;

    now you have received God’s mercy.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 

2    Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. 

3    As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”

4    Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.

5    Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. 

6    For the scripture says, “I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.”

7    This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe:  “The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.”

8    And another scripture says, “This is the stone that will make people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.”  They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.

9    But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 

10  At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

A Call To Holy Living (I Peter 1:13-25) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 

14  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 

15  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 

16  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17  And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 

18  For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 

19  It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 

20  God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

21  Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22  You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.  Love each other deeply with all your heart.

23  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. 

24  As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field.  The grass withers and the flower fades.

25  But the word of the Lord remains forever.”  And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 
14  Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. 
15  Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. 
16  The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”
17  You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. 
18  For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; 
19  it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. 
20  He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. 
21  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.
22  Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart.
23  For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. 
24  As the scripture says, “All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers.  The grass withers, and the flowers fall,
25  but the word of the Lord remains forever.”  This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

A Living Hope (I Peter 1:1-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2    God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  May God give you more and more grace and peace.
3    All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
4    and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
5    And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6    So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
7    These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8    You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
9    The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
10  This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.
11  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12  They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ—

To God's chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 
2    You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.  May grace and peace be yours in full measure. 
3    Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, 
4    and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away. 
5    They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
6    Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. 
7    Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed. 
8    You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, 
9    because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him.
10  It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. 
11  They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ's Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. 
12  God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

Patience and Prayer (James 5:7-20) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

7    Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 

8    You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9    Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 

11  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

12  But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. 

13  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.

14  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 

15  Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

17  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 

18  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. 

19  My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 

20  you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

7    Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains. 
8    You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near.
9    Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The Judge is near, ready to appear. 
10  My friends, remember the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Take them as examples of patient endurance under suffering. 
11  We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job's patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.
12  Above all, my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes, and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God's judgment.
13  Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises.
14  Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord. 
15  This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. 
16  So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. 
17  Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 
18  Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops.
19  My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again,
20  remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Warning To The Rich (James 5:1-6) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 

2  Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 

3  Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.

4  For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

5  You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 

6  You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you!

2  Your riches have rotted away, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 

3  Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have piled up riches in these last days. 

4  You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty. 

5  Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. You have made yourselves fat for the day of slaughter. 

6  You have condemned and murdered innocent people, and they do not resist you.

Warning Against Judging Others and Against Boasting (James 4:11-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
11  Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.  If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.
12  God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? 
13  Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
14  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
15  What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
16  Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
17  Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
11  Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it.
12  God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else? 
13  Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” 
14  You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. 
15  What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 
16  But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.
17  So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin.

Drawing Close To God (James 4:1-10) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 

2    You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 

3    And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4    You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 

5    What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 

6    But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

7    So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

8    Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 

9    Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 

10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. 

2    You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. 

3    And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. 

4    Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy. 

5    Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, “The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires.” 

6    But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7    So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. 

8    Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! 

9    Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! 

10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

True Wisdom Comes From God (James 3:13-18) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 

14  But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 

15  For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 

16  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 

18  And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. 

14  But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom. 

15  Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic.

16  Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil. 

17  But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy. 

18  And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

Controlling The Tongue (James 3:1-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 

2    Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3    We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 

4    And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 

5    In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 

6    And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

7    People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 

8    but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 

9    Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 

10  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 

11  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 

12  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    My friends, not many of you should become teachers. As you know, we teachers will be judged with greater strictness than others. 

2    All of us often make mistakes. But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and is also able to control his whole being. 

3    We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want. 

4    Or think of a ship: big as it is and driven by such strong winds, it can be steered by a very small rudder, and it goes wherever the pilot wants it to go. 

5    So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things.  Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! 

6    And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. 

7    We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures—wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 

8    But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison.

9    We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. 

10  Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!

11  No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. 

12  A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water.

Faith Without Good Deeds Is Dead (James 2:14-26) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

14  What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

15  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 

16  and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17  So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

18  Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

19  You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 

20  How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

21  Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 

22  You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 

23  And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”  He was even called the friend of God.

24  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

25  Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 

26  Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

14  My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? 
15  Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. 
16  What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don't give them the necessities of life? 
17  So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.
18  But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” 
19  Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear.
20  You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?
21  How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 
22  Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions.
23  And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend. 
24  You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.
25  It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.
26  So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

Warning Against Prejudice (James 2:1-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

2    For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 

3    If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 

4    doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

5    Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 

6    But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 

7    Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

8    Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

9    But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

10  For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 

11  For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”  So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

12  So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 

13  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    My friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance. 

2    Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. 

3    If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,” 

4    then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives.

5    Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. 

6    But you dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich! 

7    They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you.

8    You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 

9    But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker. 

10  Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all. 

11  For the same one who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder. 

12  Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. 

13  For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment.

Hearing and Doing (James 1:19-27) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

19  Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 

20  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 

21  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.

22  But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

23  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 

24  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 

25  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26  If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 

27  Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

19  Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. 
20  Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. 
21  So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.
22  Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. 
23  If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. 
24  They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like. 
25  But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do.
26  Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself. 
27  What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

Testing and Tempting (James 1:12-18) New Living, Good News And The Message Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
12  God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
14  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16  So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
17  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
12  Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. 
13  If we are tempted by such trials, we must not say, “This temptation comes from God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 
14  But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. 
15  Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16  Do not be deceived, my dear friends! 
17  Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning. 
18  By his own will he brought us into being through the word of truth, so that we should have first place among all his creatures.

THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION
12  Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
13-15  Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
16-18  So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

Poverty and Riches (James 1:9-11) VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
9    Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.
10  And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
11  The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
9    Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up, 
10  and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant. 
11  The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.

THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION
9-11  When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION

9    Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God],

10  And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.

11  For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

Denzel Washington ministers to a whole theatre full of up & coming artis...

FAITH AND WISDOM (JAMES 1:2-8) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

2  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 

3  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 

4  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

6  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 

7  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 

8  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

2  My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 

3  for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. 

4  Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

5  But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 

6  But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 

7-8  If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.

Closing Prayer (Hebrews 13:20-21) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
20  Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21  may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.  May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.  All glory to him forever and ever!  
Amen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
^20-21 God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of his blood, by which the eternal covenant is sealed. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever!  
Amen.

How To Please God (Hebrews 13:1-19) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 

2    Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 

3    Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

4    Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

5    Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”

6    So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?”

7    Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

8    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

9    So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

10  We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. 

11  Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 

12  So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 

13  So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 

14  For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

15  Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 

16  And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

17  Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

18  Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 

19  And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Keep on loving one another as Christians. 

2    Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it. 

3    Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are.

4    Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

5    Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” 

6    Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What can anyone do to me?”

7    Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith. 

8    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

9    Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way. It is good to receive inner strength from God's grace, and not by obeying rules about foods; those who obey these rules have not been helped by them.

10  The priests who serve in the Jewish place of worship have no right to eat any of the sacrifice on our altar.

11  The Jewish high priest brings the blood of the animals into the Most Holy Place to offer it as a sacrifice for sins; but the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp. 

12  For this reason Jesus also died outside the city, in order to purify the people from sin with his own blood.

13  Let us, then, go to him outside the camp and share his shame. 

14  For there is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come. 

15  Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord. 

16  Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.

17  Obey your leaders and follow their orders. They watch over your souls without resting, since they must give to God an account of their service. If you obey them, they will do their work gladly; if not, they will do it with sadness, and that would be of no help to you.

18  Keep on praying for us. We are sure we have a clear conscience, because we want to do the right thing at all times. 

19  And I beg you even more earnestly to pray that God will send me back to you soon.

A Call To Listen To God (Hebrews 12:12-29) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
12  So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
13  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. 
14  Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
15  Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
16  Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.
17  You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18  You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.
19  For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.
20  They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
21  Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
22  No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.
23  You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.
24  You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25  Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!
26  When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 
27  This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
28  Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
29  For our God is a devouring fire.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
12  Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees! 
13  Keep walking on straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed.
14  Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.
15  Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison. 
16  Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau, who for a single meal sold his rights as the older son. 
17  Afterward, you know, he wanted to receive his father's blessing; but he was turned back, because he could not find any way to change what he had done, even though in tears he looked for it.
18  You have not come, as the people of Israel came, to what you can feel, to Mount Sinai with its blazing fire, the darkness and the gloom, the storm, 
19  the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of a voice. When the people heard the voice, they begged not to hear another word, 
20  because they could not bear the order which said, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 
21  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling and afraid!”
22  Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with its thousands of angels. 
23  You have come to the joyful gathering of God's first-born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the judge of all people, and to the spirits of good people made perfect. 
24  You have come to Jesus, who arranged the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that promises much better things than does the blood of Abel.
25  Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape, then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven! 
26  His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven as well.” 
27  The words “once more” plainly show that the created things will be shaken and removed, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
28  Let us be thankful, then, because we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please him, with reverence and awe; 
29  because our God is indeed a destroying fire.