12 But above all, my brethren, (A)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [a]judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:12 M hypocrisy

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(A)

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Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that (A)it was said to those of [a]old, (B)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (C)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (D)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is (E)God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of (F)the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 (G)But let [b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:33 ancient times
  2. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(A) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(B) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(C) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(D) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(E) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(F) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a](G)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil

17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan (A)according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is (B)faithful, our [a]word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For (C)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, (D)Silvanus, and (E)Timothy—was not Yes and No, (F)but in Him was Yes. 20 (G)For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:18 message

17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner(A) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

18 But as surely as God is faithful,(B) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God,(C) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[a](D) and Timothy(E)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always(F) been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises(G) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”(H) is spoken by us to the glory of God.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas

34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

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34 Anyone who is hungry(A) should eat something at home,(B) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come(C) I will give further directions.

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16 “Woe to you, (A)blind guides, who say, (B)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (C)or the temple that [a]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (D)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [b]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (E)Him who [c]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (F)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:17 NU sanctified
  2. Matthew 23:20 Swears an oath
  3. Matthew 23:21 M dwelt

16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(B) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(C) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(D) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(E) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(F)

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And above all things have fervent love for one another, for (A)“love will cover a multitude of sins.”

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Above all, love each other deeply,(A) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(B)

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The Untamable Tongue

My brethren, (A)let not many of you become teachers, (B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For (C)we all stumble in many things. (D)If anyone does not stumble in word, (E)he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:2 mature

Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly.(C) We all stumble(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(E) is perfect,(F) able to keep their whole body in check.(G)

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Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

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Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

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