Proverbs 12:20
New Living Translation
20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
Matthew 5:9
New Living Translation
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
1 Peter 3:8-13
New Living Translation
All Christians
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 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. 10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”[b]
Suffering for Doing Good
13 Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:8 Greek Show brotherly love.
- 3:10-12 Ps 34:12-16.
Zechariah 6:13
New Living Translation
13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne,[a] and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 6:13 Or There will be a priest by his throne.
Hebrews 12:14
New Living Translation
A Call to Listen to God
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.
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Romans 1:29
New Living Translation
29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
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Mark 12:14-17
New Living Translation
14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”
Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin,[a] and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
His reply completely amazed them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 12:15 Greek a denarius.
Mark 7:21-22
New Living Translation
21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
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Jeremiah 17:16
New Living Translation
16 Lord, I have not abandoned my job
as a shepherd for your people.
I have not urged you to send disaster.
You have heard everything I’ve said.
Isaiah 9:6-7
New Living Translation
6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
Footnotes
- 9:6 Or Wonderful, Counselor.
Proverbs 26:24-26
New Living Translation
24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.[a]
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
Footnotes
- 26:25 Hebrew seven evils.
Proverbs 12:12
New Living Translation
12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.