5:17a

Therefore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces an appeal on the basis of what he just said in 5:15–16. Some English versions do not translate it.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

so (New Century Version)
-or-
For this reason (NET Bible)

Translate this connecting phrase in a way that is natural in your language.

foolish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foolish here is different from the word translated as “unwise” in 5:15b. Their meanings are very similar. If you do not have two words that mean “foolish” or “unwise,” you can translate foolish here as you translated “unwise” in 5:15b. For example:

thoughtlessly (New Living Translation (2004))

5:17b

but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a negative, positive contrast between 5:17a and 5:17b. If you need to make this contrast clearer, you could add the words “be wise” to make the contrast with “do not be foolish” more explicit. For example:

17a…do not be foolish, 17b but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. (NET Bible)

understand what the Lord’s will is: Here are some other ways to translate the clause understand what the Lord’s will is :

understand what the Lord wants you to do (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
try to find out what the Lord wants you to do (Good News Translation)

This clause is similar to what Paul said in 5:10.

Lord: As in 5:10, Paul probably meant the Lord God here. So if you need to specify whether it is the Lord Christ or the Lord God, choose Lord God.

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