Psalms 37:14

37:14 Evil men draw their swords

and prepare their bows,

to bring down ¹  the oppressed and needy,

and to slaughter those who are godly. ² 

Psalms 50:23

50:23 Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. ³ 

To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.” ⁴ 

Psalms 50:2

50:2 From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, ⁵ 

God comes in splendor. ⁶ 

Colossians 1:12

1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share ⁷  in the saints’ ⁸  inheritance in the light.

Philippians 1:27

1:27 Only conduct yourselves ⁹  in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that ¹⁰  you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, ¹¹ 

Philippians 3:20

3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 3:1

True and False Righteousness

3:1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, ¹²  rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Philippians 4:12

4:12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, ¹³  whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

Hebrews 13:5

13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” ¹⁴ 

James 3:13

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. ¹⁵ 

James 3:1

The Power of the Tongue

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, ¹⁶  because you know that we will be judged more strictly. ¹⁷ 

James 1:15

1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.

James 2:12

2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. ¹⁸ 

¹ tn Heb “to cause to fall.”

² tn Heb “the upright in way,” i.e., those who lead godly lives.

³ sn The reference to a thank-offering recalls the earlier statement made in v. 14. Gratitude characterizes genuine worship.

⁴ tn Heb “and [to one who] sets a way I will show the deliverance of God.” Elsewhere the phrase “set a way” simply means “to travel” (see Gen 30:36; cf. NRSV). The present translation assumes an emendation of וְשָׂם דֶּרֶךְ (vÿsam derekh) to וְשֹׁמֵר דְּרָכַּי (vÿshomer dÿrakhay, “and [the one who] keeps my ways” [i.e., commands, see Pss 18:21; 37:34). Another option is to read וְשֹׁמֵר דַּרְכּוֹ (vÿshomer darko, “and [the one who] guards his way,” i.e., “the one who is careful to follow a godly lifestyle”; see Ps 39:1).

⁵ tn Heb “the perfection of beauty.”

⁶ tn Or “shines forth.”

⁷ tn BDAG 473 s.v. ἱκανόω states, “τινὰ εἴς τι someone for someth. Col 1:12.” The point of the text is that God has qualified the saints for a “share” or “portion” in the inheritance of the saints.

⁸ tn Grk “the inheritance of the saints.” The genitive noun τῶν ἁγίων (twn Jagiwn) is a possessive genitive: “the saints’ inheritance.”

⁹ tn Grk “live as citizens.” The verb πολιτεύεσθε (politeuesqe) connotes the life of a freeman in a free Roman colony.

¹⁰ tn Grk “the things concerning you, [namely,] that.” The ὅτι (Joti) clause is appositional to τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν (ta peri Jumwn) and therefore “the things concerning you” was not translated.

¹¹ tn The phrase “the faith of the gospel” could mean one of three things: “the faith that is the gospel” (genitive of apposition), “the faith that originates from the gospel” (genitive of source), or “faith in the gospel” (objective genitive).

¹² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

¹³ tn The words “of contentment” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by Paul’s remarks at the end of v. 11.

¹⁴ sn A quotation from Deut 31:6, 8.

¹⁵ tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

¹⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

¹⁷ tn Grk “will receive a greater judgment.”

¹⁸ tn Grk “a law of freedom.”