4:2a Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways.

Instead ⌊of becoming dejected⌋, we (excl.) have refused all secret deeds of shame,
-or-
Rather ⌊than despair⌋, we have refused to have anything to do with secret and shameful deeds.

4:2b We do not practice deceit,

⌊for⌋ we do not act with cunning/deceit,
-or-

⌊That is,⌋ we never try to cleverly deceive,

4:2c nor do we distort the word of God.

nor do we give wrong/false meaning to God’s word,
-or-
and we never change God’s message to deceive ⌊people⌋.

4:2d On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth,

but we proclaim the truth plainly,
-or-
Instead, we announce the true teachings ⌊about Christ⌋ clearly,

4:2e we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

and so we support/approve ourselves before God to every person’s conscience.
-or-
and in that way we show to ourselves that we have done well to every person’s inner being, as God knows.

© 2016 by SIL International®
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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