to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. Titus 3:2 NASB Contentious – The NASB translation is only one of several possible choices for the Greek term ámachos. Other English Bibles provide “peaceable,” “not brawlers,” “avoid quarreling,” and “avoid fighting.” The reason for this is that the Greek term is the…
Abandoned among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and they are cut off from Your hand. Psalm 88:5 NASB Abandoned – What an interesting choice of words! Sometimes translated “forsaken,” the Hebrew root is the verb ḥāpaš. Here it is ḥopšî, an adjective. What’s interesting is the basic…
And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 NASB Dismayed – Dismayed? Do you know precisely what that means? I’m guessing that most people don’t. We have a general idea. It’s something…
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 NASB Worldly desires – Do you find it disturbing that Paul’s view of ungodliness (asebḗ) is paralleled with kosmikós epithymías? Reading it in translation might reduce your trepidation,…
And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, . .” Genesis 3:1a NASB Indeed – There’s a third chair in the therapist’s office. It’s occupied by the yetzer ha’ra. You know, that essential part of you that wants to control your life, to overpower your responsibilities for others and have what you want…
For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:14 NASB Frame – God knows we are dust, but I wonder if we do. We read the words. We know the story from Genesis 2, but I don’t think we’ve let the truth sink in. Well, maybe you have. Maybe you’ve really come…
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 NASB Who continually– Isn’t it nice to know that the Teacher (Qohelet) allows for the ups and downs of ethical behavior? He notes that no one continually does good. And we agree, of course, since his observation matches ours. Sometimes we do…
It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his…
I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 NASB Every – One of the claims of some religious systems is that only those actions taken “in the Spirit” and only…
I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2 NASB Every day – How does the Twelve Step phrase go? “It works if you work it.” Defeating the yetzer ha’ra…
