You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

NLTNew Living Translation

And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

or by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king.

KJV 1900King James Version

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

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