American Standard Version of 1901
Versliste
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:He is gracious, and merciful, and righteous.
Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth;He shall maintain his cause in judgment.
And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a {Greek: squalid.}dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:
seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us {Some ancient authorities read through glory and virtue.}by his own glory and virtue;
whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of {Or, a}the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
and if thou {Or, bestow on the hungry that which thy soul desireth}draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday;
Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth.
And if thy brother be waxed poor, and his hand fail with thee; then thou shalt {Or, relieve}uphold him: as a stranger and a sojourner shall he live with thee.
Charge them that are rich in this present {Or, age.}world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, {Or, ready to sympathize}willing to communicate;
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.