Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
NIV
Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
AMP
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
KJV
For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a skilled worker shapes it with a chisel.
NIV
For the customs and ordinances of the peoples are false, empty, and futile; it is but a tree which one cuts out of the forest [to make for himself a god], the work of the hands of the craftsman with the ax or other tool.
AMP
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
KJV
No bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for workers are worth their keep.
NIV
And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).
AMP
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
KJV
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the goldsmith and engraver have made is then dressed in blue and purple – all made by skilled workers.
NIV
Silver beaten [into plates] is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; the [idols'] clothing is violet and purple--they are all the work of skillful men.
AMP
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
KJV
They are from Israel! This calf – a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.
NIV
For this [calf] too is from Israel; a craftsman made it; therefore it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to shivers and go up in flames.
AMP
For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
KJV
How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince's daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist's hands.
NIV
[THEN HER companions began noticing and commenting on the attractiveness of her person] How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O queenly maiden! Your rounded limbs are like jeweled chains, the work of a master hand.
AMP
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
KJV
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers – all of them skilled workers and designers.
NIV
He has filled them with wisdom of heart and ability to do all manner of craftsmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, of the embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet [stuff] and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do or design any skilled work.
AMP
Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
KJV
People too poor to present such an offering select wood that will not rot. They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
NIV
He who is so impoverished that he has no offering or oblation or rich gift to give [to his god is constrained to make a wooden offering, an idol; so he] chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to carve and set up an image that will not totter or deteriorate.
AMP
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
KJV
