GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
18 God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.
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He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19 Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily.
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My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 An angry person doesn't do what God approves of.
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because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you.
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Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do what God's word says. Don't merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.
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Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 If someone listens to God's word but doesn't do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror,
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Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like.
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and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say.
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But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 If a person thinks that he is religious but can't control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person's religion is worthless.
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Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27 Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.
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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.