"A peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14)—The Greek term "periousios," here translated "peculiar," means rather "for one's own special possession" (Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 200). Goodspeed translates: "A people of his own, eager to do right;" and Weymouth: "A people ... specially his own, zealous for doing good works."

"For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom" (II Pet. 1:11)—The verb translated "ministered" is, more literally, "provided or supplied" (Souter: op. cit., p. 95) and so "arranged." Hence we could translate: "For thus entrance into the everlasting kingdom ... will be lavishly arranged for you." Goodspeed suggests: "For then you will be triumphantly admitted to the eternal kingdom;" and Moffatt: "You will thus be richly furnished with the right of entry into the sacred realm."

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (II Pet. 1:10)—In this sentence the word "klesis" ("calling") can also mean "'invitation, summons' of God;" while "ekloge" ("election") means literally "choosing out, selecting, choice (by God)" (Souter: op. cit., pp. 135, 76). Goodspeed suggests: "Therefore, brothers, make all the greater efforts to make God's call and choice of you certain;" while a further rendering would be: "Therefore, brothers, take especial care to confirm God's call and choice of you."

"He leadeth me beside the still waters" (Ps. 23:2)—A literal translation of the original would be: "He leadeth me beside the waters of rest."

"Partakers of Christ" (Hebr. 3:14)—The Greek word "metochoi" can mean either "partakers" or simply "partners" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 407). Thus Goodspeed renders, "partners"; Ferrar Fenton, "Participators"; Weymouth, "sharers"; while the Twentieth Century New Testament reads: "We all share in Christ;" and Moffatt: "We participate in Christ."

"How ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more" (I Thess. 4:1)—The Greek term literally translated "walk" is also used figuratively in the sense of "live" or "conduct oneself" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 504; also Moffatt, Weymouth, and Fenton); while the words rendered "abound more and more" may also be rendered "excel still more" or "increase in excellance" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 505); or, again, "progress further" (Fenton). Goodspeed has: "Live as you learned from us that you must live, to please God—as indeed you are doing, only do it more and more."

"When he is tried" (James 1:12)—The word "dokimos," here rendered "tried," means literally "accepted" and was originally used with reference to metals or coins which had been assayed and had passed the test. In short, it would appear to refer to the result of the trial, rather than to the trial itself. Hence the rendering of the Revised Version: "When he has been approved." Compare Moffatt's translation: "When he has stood the test."

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly" (Ps. 1:1)—The Hebrew preposition rendered "in" often means "by"; and so Moffatt renders: "Happy the man who never goes by the advice of the ungodly," and continues, "Who never takes the sinners' road." An alternative reading would be: "Happy the man who does not follow the advice of the ungodly."

"See if there be any wicked way in me" (Ps. 139:24)—Literally, "any way of pain" or "hurtful way" (Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 780). Smith suggests, "any false way"; and Moffatt, "See if I am taking 'any course of wrong.'"

"Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceiful lusts" (Eph. 4:22)—The Greek word "anastrophe" means more exactly "manner or way of life," while the concluding clause of the verse has been literally translated: "which is becoming corrupt because of the lusts of deceit" (Thayar: op. cit.). Goodspeed has: "You must lay aside with your former habits your old self which is going to ruin through its deceptive passions;" while Moffatt suggests: "You must lay aside the old nature which belonged to your former course of life, that nature which crumbles to ruin under the passions of moral deceit;" and Weymouth reads: "... is doomed to perish as befits its misleading impulses."

"I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me" (Ps. 39:2)—The rare word "machsom," rendered "bridle," means properly "a muzzle," and comes from the verb used in Deuteronomy 25:4 in the phrase, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 340). Hence Moffatt's translation: "I must put a muzzle on my lips, in presence of the ungodly;" and that of Smith: "I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked is before me." The rendering of the Septuagint is: "I set a guard on my mouth while the sinner stood in my presence."

"We beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more" (I Thess. 4:10)—The Greek verb "perisseuein" means literally "to exceed a fixed number or measure" and so "to abound, overflow, excel." In this context Thayer suggests the renderings "excel still more" and "increase in excellence" (op. cit., p. 505). Goodspeed reads: "But we do entreat you, brothers, to surpass yourselves;" and Ferrar Fenton: "We beg you, brothers, to proceed further."

"Thy steps shall not be straitened" (Prov. 4:12)—The Hebrew verb translated "straitened" means properly "bound, cramped, restricted, impeded" (Brown, etc., op. cit.). Moffatt clarifies the sense of the phrase as follows: "When you walk, you will never be hindered;" and Smith has, "... your steps will not be hampered."

"Let not then your good be evil spoken of" (Rom. 14:16)—Goodspeed offers the interesting translation: "The thing you have a right to do must not become a cause of reproach." Compare Moffatt's rendering: "Your rights must not get a bad name."

"Many shall be purified and made white and tried" (Dan. 12:10)—The Hebrew verb rendered "be purified" means literally "to purify oneself or show oneself pure" (Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary, p. 49); just as "to be made white" is more exactly "to make oneself white." In its primary sense the verb "tsaraph" ("tried") is used of the refining of metals; hence its literal meaning is "smelted or refined" (ibid., p. 292). Consequently Moffatt and the Revised Version translate: "Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined."

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God" (Hebr. 12:15)—The Greek phrase "husteron apo," here rendered "fail of," can also mean "to be left behind in the race for, have no part in" (Souter: op. cit., p. 272). Moffatt translates: "See to it that no one misses the grace of God."

"Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebr. 12:12)—Goodspeed offers a more idiomatic translation: "So tighten your loosening hold! Stiffen your wavering stand;" while Moffatt renders: "So up with your listless hands! Strengthen your weak knees!"