Proverbs 18 Cross References - LEB

¹ He who is selfish seeks a craving;* against all sound judgment he shows contempt. ² A fool will not take pleasure in understanding, but in expressing his heart.* ³ With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also, and with dishonor, disgrace. ⁴ Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom. ⁵ Being partial to faces of evil is not good, nor to subvert the righteous at the judgment. ⁶ The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging. ⁷ The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.* ⁸ The words of a whisper are like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down to inner parts of the body. ⁹ Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master* of destruction. ¹⁰ A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him* the righteous will run and be safe. ¹¹ The wealth of the rich is _⌊his strong city_⌋,* and like a wall, it is high in his imagination. ¹² In the presence of destruction, the heart* of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble. ¹³ He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself belongs to him as well as* shame. ¹⁴ The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it? ¹⁵ An intelligent _⌊mind_⌋* will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge. ¹⁶ The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access. ¹⁷ The first in his dispute is deemed righteous, but his neighbor will come and examine him. ¹⁸ The lot will put an end to disputes, and between powerful contenders it will decide. ¹⁹ A brother who is offended is worse than a city of strength, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortification. ²⁰ From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy. ²¹ Death and life are in the _⌊power_⌋* of the tongue, and those who love her* will eat of her fruit. ²² He who finds a wife* finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh. ²³ The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly. ²⁴ A man of many friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

¹⁶ And by what will it be known then that I have found favor in your eyes, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us? And so we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the ground."

¹ My child, if you will receive* my sayings, and hide my commands with you, ² in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding. ³ For if you cry out for understanding,* if you lift* your voice for insight, ⁴ if you seek her like silver and search her out _⌊like treasure_⌋,* ⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find. ⁶ For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

¹⁰ The heart* knows the bitterness of its soul,* but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.

¹⁴ Like the release of water is the beginning of strife; before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.

³ It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

¹⁹ He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip, and do not associate with a babbler's lips.

²¹ Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king; with those who change, do not associate.

¹⁷ Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.

⁸ Surely we wait for you in the path of your judgments, Yahweh, for your name and renown are the desire of the soul. ⁹ I desire you with all my soul in the night; also I seek you with my spirit within me, for when your judgments are _⌊upon_⌋* the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

¹⁷ I sat not in the assembly of jokers, nor did I exult. Because of the _⌊presence_⌋* of your hand I sat alone, for you filled me with indignation.

³ saying to the _⌊priests of the house of Yahweh of hosts_⌋* and to the prophets, "Should I mourn in the fifth month and keep myself separate* as I have done for these many years?"

¹¹ And he answered and* said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted.

⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and* concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field.

³⁵ And getting up early in the morning while it was very dark, he departed and went to a deserted place, and there he was praying.

¹¹ And he said to them, "To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables,

¹ Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

¹⁷ Therefore "come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch what is unclean,* and I will welcome you,*

¹⁵ Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Because of this do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁹ These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly, not having the Spirit.

¹⁵ And he _⌊uttered_⌋* his oracle and said,
"The declaration of Balaam son of Beor, and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed, ¹⁶ the declaration of the hearer of God's words,* and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of Shaddai,* who is falling, and his eyes are revealed.

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked; nor does he stand in the way of sinners; nor does he sit in the assembly of mockers. ² Instead, in the law of Yahweh is his delight, and on his law he meditates day and night.

⁷ Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

²² "_⌊How long_⌋,* O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ A clever person conceals knowledge, but the heart* of a fool* announces folly.

¹⁶ Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence, but the fool will display folly.

¹⁶ Why is this? A price in the hand of a fool, in order to buy wisdom where* there is no _⌊sense_⌋.*

³ Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense; he tells everyone that he is a fool.

³⁴ And behold, the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they* saw him, they implored him* that he would depart from their region.

¹ Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that "we all have knowledge."* Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

¹² In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound.

¹⁵ Some even because of envy and strife preach Christ, but some also because of good will.

¹⁵ By* leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they* followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,* who loved the wages of unrighteousness, ¹⁶ but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained _⌊the prophet's madness_⌋*. ¹⁷ These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a hurricane, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ _⌊For by speaking high-sounding but empty words_⌋*, they entice with desires of the flesh and with licentiousness those who are scarcely escaping from those who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom although they* themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also* enslaved.

³⁰ Then _⌊Saul became angry_⌋* at Jonathan and said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!* Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

⁴ Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn on their head and give them over to plunder in the land of captivity.

⁹ because the zeal for your house* has consumed me, and the reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen on me.

²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart and I am sick. And I hoped for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

³ Be gracious to us, O Yahweh, be gracious to us, for long enough we have had our fill of contempt. ⁴ For long enough our soul has had its fill of the derision of the self-confident, the contempt of the arrogant.

² Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom is with the humble.

¹⁰ Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out; quarrel and abuse will cease.

¹⁶ With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase, but the righteous will look on his downfall.

³⁹ And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, "The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it* in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" ⁴¹ In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him,* saying, ⁴² "He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! ⁴³ He trusts in God; let him deliver him now if he wants to,* because he said, 'I am the Son of God'!" ⁴⁴ And in the same way even the robbers who were crucified with him were reviling him.

⁴ with respect to which they are surprised when* you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and so they* revile you.

¹⁴ If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

² I will offer* a parable with my mouth. I will pour out riddles from long ago,

¹¹ A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness, and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, in order to avoid the snares of death.

²² A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,* but the instruction* of fools is folly.

⁵ Deep waters are like purpose in the heart* of a man, and a man of understanding will draw it* out.

³⁴ Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say good things when you* are evil? For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

¹⁴ But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

³⁸ the one who believes in me.* Just as the scripture said, 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'"* ³⁹ Now he said this concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. For the Spirit was not yet given,* because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God,

⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

¹⁵ " 'You* shall not do injustice in judgment; _⌊you* shall not show partiality to the powerless_⌋;* you* shall not give preference _⌊to the powerful_⌋;* you* shall judge your* fellow citizen with justice.

¹⁶ And at that time I instructed your judges, saying, '_⌊hear out your fellow men_⌋,* and then judge fairly* between a man and between his brother and between _⌊his opponent who is a resident alien_⌋.* ¹⁷ You must not _⌊be partial_⌋* _⌊in your judgment_⌋; * hear out the small person as also the great person; _⌊do not be intimidated by any person_⌋,* because the judgment is God's; and the case that is too difficult* for you, bring it to me, and I will hear it out.'

¹⁹ You shall not subvert* justice; you shall not _⌊show partiality_⌋;* and you shall not take a bribe, for the bribe makes blind the eyes of the wise and misrepresents the words of the righteous.

⁹ She had written in the letters, saying, "Call a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people. ¹⁰ Seat two men, _⌊scoundrels_⌋,* opposite him. Let them witness against him saying, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then you shall bring him out and stone him so that he dies." ¹¹ The men of his city and the elders and nobles who were living in his city did according to what Jezebel had sent to them, as was written in the letters which she had sent to them. ¹² They called a fast, and they seated Naboth at the head of the people. ¹³ Then the two men, _⌊scoundrels_⌋,* came, sat opposite him, and the _⌊scoundrels_⌋* witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king," so they brought him outside of the city and stoned him with stones, and he died. ¹⁴ They sent to Jezebel saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and he is dead."

⁷ "Will you* speak falsely for God? And will you* speak deceitfully for him? ⁸ _⌊Will you* show partiality for him_⌋?* Or do you* want to plead God's case?

¹⁹ who _⌊shows no partiality to officials_⌋* and who _⌊does not take note of the noble more than of the insignificant_⌋,* for all of them are the work of his hands?

² "How long will you judge unjustly and _⌊show favoritism to the wicked_⌋?* Selah

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, the two of them are both abominations of Yahweh.

²³ These sayings are also for the wise: _⌊Partiality_⌋* in judgment is not good.

²¹ _⌊Showing partiality_⌋* is not good, and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.

²³ Those who acquit the guilty because of a bribe and remove the justice of the innocent from him.

¹⁴ And justice is pushed back, and righteousness stands afar; for truth stumbles in the public square, and straightforwardness is unable to enter,

³ Their hands are upon evil, to do it well; the official and the judge ask for the bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; and they weave it together.

¹⁶ And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and _⌊you do not care what anyone thinks_⌋,* _⌊because you do not regard the opinion of people_⌋.*

¹⁶ As for a fool, _⌊on that very day_⌋* he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult is prudent.

¹⁰ Only by insolence is strife set up, and wisdom is with those who take advice.

³ In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them.

¹⁶ The wise is cautious and turns from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.

²⁷ A man of wickedness concocts evil, and his lips are like a scorching fire. ²⁸ A person of perversity will spread dissent, and he who whispers separates a close friend.

¹⁹ A hot-tempered person pays a penalty; if you rescue him, you will do it yet again.

²⁹ Judgments* are prepared for the scoffers, and flogging for the back of fools.

²⁴ Do not befriend an owner* of _⌊anger_⌋,* and with a man of wrath you shall not associate; ²⁵ lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.*

²⁴ Better to live upon the corner of a roof than with a woman* of contention and in a shared house.

³ Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule,* but there is no relief.

³⁵ And the moment he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Ah! My daughter, you have caused me to bow down, and you have become my trouble. _⌊I made an oath_⌋* to Yahweh, and I cannot take it back."

²⁴ Now the men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, because Saul had made the army take an oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats any food until evening, when I will have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the army tasted any food. ²⁵ (Now all the people of the land used to go into the forest, for there was honey on the surface of the ground.) ²⁶ When the army came to the forest, look! There was honey flowing, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the army was afraid of the solemn oath. ²⁷ However, Jonathan had not heard about the oath of his father with the army, so he extended the end of the staff which was in his hand, and he dipped it into the honeycomb.* Then he put his hand to his mouth and his eyes gleamed.* ²⁸ Then a man from the army informed him and said, "Your father made the army swear a solemn oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food today,'" so the army is exhausted. ²⁹ Then Jonathan said, "My father has brought trouble on the land! See now that my eyes have brightened because I have tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ _⌊How much more could have been done_⌋* if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder of their enemies that they had found! For now the loss among the Philistines is not great." ³¹ They defeated the Philistines that day from Micmash to Aijalon, and the troops were very weary. ³² Then the troops took the plunder: they took sheep and cattle and _⌊calves_⌋* and slaughtered them on the ground and the troops ate them all with the blood. ³³ So they reported it to Saul, saying, "Look! The troops are sinning against Yahweh by eating the animals with the blood!" And he said, "You have dealt treacherously! Roll to me a large stone _⌊today_⌋!"* ³⁴ Then Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the troops and say to them, 'Bring to me each one his ox and each his sheep and slaughter them in this place and eat, but do not sin against Yahweh by eating the animals with the blood.'" So all the troops brought them, each leading his ox in his hand that night, and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to Yahweh; _⌊it was the first altar he built_⌋* to Yahweh. ³⁶ Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and let us plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave alive a man among them." So they said, "Do all that is good in your eyes." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." ³⁷ So Saul inquired of God, "Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him on that day. ³⁸ Then Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, _⌊so that we find out_⌋* what the sin was this day. ³⁹ For as Yahweh lives, who delivers Israel, I swear that even if it is in Jonathan my son, _⌊he will certainly die_⌋!"* But nobody from all the army answered him. ⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, "You will be _⌊on one side_⌋,* and I and my son Jonathan will be _⌊on the other_⌋."* And the army said to Saul, "Do what is good in your eyes." ⁴¹ Then Saul said to Yahweh the God of Israel, "_⌊Render a decision perfectly_⌋."* Jonathan and Saul were chosen by lot and the people went out. ⁴² Then Saul said, "Let them cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan," and Jonathan was chosen. ⁴³ So Saul said, "Tell me what you have done." So Jonathan told him and said, "I _⌊merely tasted_⌋* a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die." ⁴⁴ Then Saul said, "So may God do to me and _⌊more_⌋,* you will certainly die today, Jonathan!" ⁴⁵ But the army said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not a hair from his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the army ransomed Jonathan and he did not die. ⁴⁶ Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their place.

⁸ * And they who would cause him* to stumble, their own tongue will be against them. All who gaze on them will shake.*

⁹ With respect to the head of those who surround me, may the harm of their lips cover them.

² if you are snared by the sayings of your mouth, if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth,

⁸ A heart of wisdom will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

¹⁴ Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

¹³ By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

³ He who keeps his mouth guards his life;* he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.

¹¹ If the snake bites before the charming, _⌊the snake charmer will not succeed_⌋.* ¹² The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips. ¹³ He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion. ¹⁴ The fool _⌊talks too much_⌋,* for no one knows what will be. Who can tell anyone what will happen _⌊in the future_⌋?*

²³ And he swore to her,* "Anything whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom!" ²⁴ And she went out and* said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and* asked, saying, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately." ²⁶ And although he* was deeply grieved, the king, because of his* oaths and _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner and* ordered him* to bring his head. And he went and* beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸ And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

¹⁴ who went to the chief priests and the elders and* said, "We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near." ¹⁶ But when* the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks* and* reported it* to Paul. ¹⁷ So Paul called one of the centurions and* said, "Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him." ¹⁸ So he took him and* brought him* to the military tribune and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and* asked me* to bring this young man to you because he* has something to tell you." ¹⁹ And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, "What is it that you have to report to me?" ²⁰ And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. ²¹ You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of _⌊their number_⌋* are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for _⌊you to agree_⌋."* ²² So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,* "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."

¹⁶ You* shall not go about with slander among your* people; _⌊you* shall not endanger your* neighbor's life_⌋;* I am Yahweh.

² Your tongue plans destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceit.

³ who sharpen their tongue like a sword. They bend their bow to shoot their arrows—bitter words, ⁴ to shoot from* their* hiding places at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

¹⁸ There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

²⁸ A person of perversity will spread dissent, and he who whispers separates a close friend.

²⁰ For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease. ²¹ As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

²⁹ I am a companion for the jackals and a companion for _⌊ostriches_⌋.*

⁴ A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent enriches.

²⁰ Do not be among drinkers of wine, among gluttonous eaters of _⌊their meat_⌋.* ²¹ For the drunkard and gluttonous, they will become poor, and with rags, drowsiness will clothe them.

³⁰ I passed by the field of a lazy person, and over the vineyard of a person lacking _⌊sense_⌋;* ³¹ and behold, it was overgrown—all of it was covered with thorns, its surface with nettles, and _⌊its stone wall_⌋* was broken down. ³² Then I myself saw and my heart* considered; I looked, and I took hold of instruction: ³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest, ³⁴ and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.

²⁴ He who robs his father and his mother and says, "There is no crime," is partner to a man who corrupts.

²⁶ But his master answered and* said to him, 'Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter seed.*

¹³ And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and* went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by* living wastefully. ¹⁴ And after* he had spent everything, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.

¹ And he also said to the disciples, "A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions. ² And he summoned him and* said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.'

¹¹ not lagging in diligence, being enthusiastic in spirit, serving the Lord,

¹² in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.

¹ When* Abram was ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to Abram. And he said to him, "I am El-Shaddai;* walk before me and be blameless

¹¹ Please rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and attack mother and children alike.

²⁸ And he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,* for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." ²⁹ Then Jacob asked and said, "Please tell me your name." And he said, "Why do you ask this—for my name?" And he blessed him there.

¹³ But Moses said to God, "Look, if I go to the _⌊Israelites_⌋* and I say to them, 'The God of your ancestors* has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is his name?' then what shall I say to them?" ¹⁴ And God said to Moses, "I am that I am." And he said, "So you must say to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* 'I am sent me to you.'" ¹⁵ And God said again to Moses, "So you must say to the _⌊Israelites_⌋,* 'Yahweh, the God of your ancestors,* the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my remembrance from generation to generation.'

³ And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Shaddai,* but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.

⁵ And Yahweh descended in the cloud, and he stood with him there, and he proclaimed the name of Yahweh. ⁶ And Yahweh passed over before him, and he proclaimed, "Yahweh, Yahweh, God, who is compassionate and gracious, _⌊slow to anger_⌋,* and abounding with* loyal love and faithfulness, ⁷ keeping loyal love to the thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and he does not leave utterly unpunished, punishing the guilt of fathers on sons and on sons of sons on third and fourth generations."

⁶ And _⌊David was in a very precarious situation_⌋,* for the people spoke of stoning him, for the souls of all the people were bitter, each one over his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.

³ I take refuge in God, my rock,* my shield, and the _⌊strength_⌋* of my salvation. My stronghold and my refuge, O my savior, you will save me from violence!

⁴⁵ Children of a foreign land came cringing to me; _⌊when they heard of me_⌋,* they became obedient to me. ⁴⁶ Children of a foreign land lost heart and came trembling from their strongholds. ⁴⁷ Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be exalted!

⁵¹ He makes great salvation for his king and shows loyal love to his anointed one, David and to his descendants forever."

² Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I have taken refuge, my shield and the horn of my deliverance, my stronghold.

¹ Of David.*
Yahweh is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the refuge of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

³ _⌊When_⌋* I fear, I trust you. ⁴ God, whose word I praise, God I trust; I do not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?

³ For you have been my refuge, a strong tower from the enemy. ⁴ Let me reside in your tent forever. Let me take refuge under the covering of your wings. Selah

² I will say to Yahweh, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

¹⁴ Because he loves me, therefore I will deliver him; I will protect* him because he knows my name.

² my loyal love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, and one in whom I take refuge, the one who subdues peoples* under me.

⁶ For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁴ Trust in Yahweh forever, for in Yah, Yahweh you have an everlasting rock.

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy:
"I reside in a high and holy place, and with the _⌊contrite_⌋* and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the _⌊contrite_⌋.*

⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell _⌊in safety_⌋,* and this is his name by which he will be called: 'Yahweh is our righteousness.'

¹⁹ Yahweh, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer; he causes me to walk on my high places. To the choirmaster with stringed instruments.

²³ "Behold, the virgin _⌊will become pregnant_⌋* and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel,"*
which is translated, "God with us."*

⁸ I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the one who is and the one who was and the one who is coming, the All-Powerful.

³¹ For the fact of the matter is, their rock is not like our Rock, and our enemies recognize* this.

²⁴ "If I have made gold my trust, or* I have called fine gold my security, ²⁵ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great or* because my hand found a fortune,

⁶ those who trust their wealth and boast about the abundance of their riches? ⁷ Surely a man cannot redeem a brother. He cannot give to God his ransom ⁸ (since* the redemption price for their life is costly and it always fails), ⁹ so that he may stay alive forever and not see the pit.

⁵ but God will pull you down forever. He will snatch you and tear you away from your tent, and he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah ⁶ And the righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, ⁷ "Look, the man who would not make God his refuge, but he trusted in the greatness of his wealth; he took refuge in his destructiveness."

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion, and do not put vain confidence in robbery. If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it. ¹¹ Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that strength belongs to God.

¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

⁴ Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death.

¹² _⌊For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection_⌋.* But knowledge has an advantage—wisdom restores life to its possessor.

¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!" ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life* is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?' ²¹ So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!"

⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." ⁷ _⌊And then_⌋* after Yahweh spoke these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "_⌊My wrath has been kindled_⌋* against you* and against the two of your friends, for you* have not spoken to me what is right as my servant Job has. ⁸ _⌊So then_⌋,* take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will pray for you,* for _⌊I will certainly accept his prayer_⌋,* so that it will not be done with you* according to your folly, for you* have not spoken to me what is right as my servant Job has." ⁹ So* Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did just as Yahweh had told them, and _⌊Yahweh accepted Job's prayer_⌋.* ¹⁰ Then* Yahweh returned Job's fortune when he prayed to him on behalf of his friends. Thus* Yahweh increased _⌊all that Job had twice as much as before_⌋.* ¹¹ So* all his brothers and all his sisters and all those who had known him _⌊before_⌋* came to him, and they ate bread* with him in his house and showed sympathy to him and comforted him for all the disaster* that Yahweh had brought upon him. Then* each one gave to him one piece of money, and each one gave to him one ornamental ring of gold. ¹² So* Yahweh blessed Job's latter days more than his beginning. _⌊Thus he had_⌋* fourteen thousand sheep and goats and six thousand camels and a thousand pair of oxen and a thousand female donkeys. ¹³ _⌊And he had_⌋* seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ And he called the name of the first Jemimah and the name of the second Keziah and the name of the third Qeren-Happuk. ¹⁵ And beautiful women were not found in all the land like Job's daughters, and their father gave to them an inheritance in the midst of their brothers. ¹⁶ And Job lived after this one hundred and forty years, and he saw his sons and his _⌊grandsons_⌋* for four generations. ¹⁷ Then* Job died old and full of days.

³³ Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.

¹⁸ Before destruction comes pride, and before a fall, a haughty spirit.*

²³ The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.

⁵ And I said, "Woe to me! For I am destroyed!* For I am a man _⌊of unclean lips_⌋,* and I am living among* a people _⌊of unclean lips_⌋,* for my eyes have seen the king, Yahweh of hosts!" ⁶ Then one of the seraphs flew to me, and in his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. ⁷ And he touched my mouth, and he said,
"Look! This has touched your lips and has removed your guilt, and your sin is annulled." ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said,
"I am here! Send me!" ⁹ And he said, "Go and say to this people,
'Keep on listening and do not comprehend! And keep on looking and do not understand!' ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people insensitive, and make its ears unresponsive, and shut its eyes so that it may not look with its eyes and listen with its ears and comprehend with its mind and turn back, and it may be healed for him." ¹¹ Then I said, "Until when, Lord?"
And he said,
"Until the cities lie wasted without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is ruined and a waste, ¹² and Yahweh sends the people far away, and the abandonment is great in the midst of the land. ¹³ And _⌊even if only a tenth part remain_⌋,* _⌊again she will be destroyed_⌋* like a terebinth or like an oak, which although felled, a tree stump remains in them. The seed of holiness will be her tree stump."

⁴⁹ Look! This was the iniquity of Sodom, your sister: Pride, abundance of food, and _⌊prosperous ease_⌋* was to her and to her daughters, and _⌊she did not sustain the needy and the poor_⌋.* ⁵⁰ And they were proud, and they did a detestable thing _⌊before me_⌋,* and I removed them _⌊because_⌋* I saw it.

² "Son of man,* say to the leader of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh:
"Because your heart was haughty, and you said, 'I am a god; I sit in the seat of the gods, I sit in the heart of the seas!' But* you are a human, not a god, and you gave your heart to be like the heart of a god.

⁹ _⌊Will you indeed still say_⌋* "I am a god!" before the face of your killers?* And in fact you are a human* and not a god in the hand of _⌊those who pierce you_⌋.*

²³ And now you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of his temple you have brought in before you, and you and your lords,* your wives and your concubines, have been drinking wine from* them, and you have praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone* that do not see and do not hear and do not know, but the God _⌊who holds your life in his hand_⌋* and all of your ways _⌊come from him_⌋,* you have not honored. ²⁴ So then the palm of the hand was sent out from his presence and this writing was inscribed.

²⁰ Now I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh my God, on behalf _⌊of the holy mountain of my God_⌋.*

²³ At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out, and now I have come to declare* it, for you are highly esteemed, and so consider the word and understand the vision.

¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

²¹ So on an appointed day Herod, after* putting on royal clothing and sitting down on the judgment seat, began to deliver a public address to them. ²² But the people began to call out loudly,* "The voice of a god and not of a man!" ²³ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down _⌊because_⌋* he did not give the glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and* died.

⁵ In the same way, younger men, be subject to the elders, and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

¹⁴ then you shall inquire and examine and interrogate thoroughly, and, look! It is true; the thing has actually been done, this detestable thing in your midst,

⁴ The king said to Ziba, "Look, all that was Mephibosheth's is yours." Ziba said, "I hereby do obeisance; may I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king."

²⁴ Now, Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet nor trimmed his moustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in peace. ²⁵ It happened that when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?" ²⁶ Then he said, "My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant had said, 'Let me saddle the donkey that I may ride on her and go with the king,' for your servant is lame. ²⁷ But he slandered against your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like the angel of God; _⌊do as you see fit._⌋."* ²⁸ For there was no one in all the house of my father _⌊who were not doomed to death_⌋* before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. Do I have any righteousness any longer except to cry out to the king?" ²⁹ Then the king said to him, "Why should you speak any more about the matter? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land." ³⁰ Then Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take the whole thing, since my lord the king has come _⌊safely_⌋* to his house."

¹⁰ So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. ¹¹ And the king said to Haman, "The money is given to you and to the people to do with it _⌊as you see fit_⌋.* ¹² And the king's secretaries were called in the first month on the thirteenth day, and a decree was issued, according to all that Haman commanded, to the satraps of the king and to the governors who were over all the provinces, and to the officials of all the people, to each province according to its own script and to all people according to their own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and was sealed with the king's ring. ¹³ Letters were sent by couriers* to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, _⌊both young and old_⌋,* women and children, on one day, the thirteenth day of the month, that is Adar, and to plunder their goods. ¹⁴ A copy of the edict was presented as law in every province making it known to all the people to be ready for that day. ¹⁵ The couriers went out quickly by order of the king, and the law was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; and the city of Susa was bewildered.*

⁵ and she said, "If it is good to the king, and if I have found favor before him,* and if the king is pleased with this matter, and _⌊I have his approval_⌋,* let an edict be written to revoke the letters of the plans of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the provinces of the king. ⁶ For _⌊how can I bear_⌋* to look on the disaster that will find my people, and _⌊how can I bear_⌋* to look on the destruction of my family?" ⁷ And King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Look, I have given Haman's house to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he _⌊plotted against_⌋* the Jews. ⁸ Write _⌊as you see fit_⌋* concerning the Jews in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's signet ring cannot be revoked." ⁹ And the secretaries of the king were summoned* at that time, in the third month, which is in the month of Sivan on the twenty-third day, and an edict was written according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews and to the governors and satraps and officials of the provinces from India to Cush*—one hundred and twenty-seven provinces*—each province according to its own script and to every people in their own _⌊language_⌋,* and to the Jews in their own script and language. ¹⁰ And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed the letters with the king's signet ring and sent them* by couriers on horses, riding on royal horses _⌊bred by_⌋* racing mares.* ¹¹ In them the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and _⌊defend their lives_⌋,* to destroy and kill and annihilate any army of any people or province attacking them, including women and children, and to plunder their spoil, ¹² in one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. ¹³ A copy of the _⌊edict_⌋* was to be given as law in each province to inform all the people, so that the Jews would be ready* on that day to avenge themselves from their enemies. ¹⁴ The mounted couriers on the royal horses went out without delay, urged by the king's word. The law was given in the citadel of Susa. ¹⁵ Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in _⌊royal clothing_⌋* of blue cloth and white linen, and a great crown of gold and a robe of fine white linen and purple, and the city of Susa was shouting and rejoicing. ¹⁶ For the Jews, there was light and gladness, joy and honor. ¹⁷ In every province and city, wherever the king's edict and his law came, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a banquet and a _⌊holiday_⌋,* and many of the people from the country were posing as Jews because the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

¹⁶ I was a father to the poor, and I investigated _⌊the stranger's_⌋* legal dispute.

²⁵ It is a snare to humankind to say rashly "It is holy," and after vows, to scrutinize.

⁹ _⌊So_⌋* the king, Darius, signed the writing and the interdict.*

¹⁴ Then the king, when* he heard that _⌊report_⌋,* he was extremely distressed over it; and _⌊concerning Daniel_⌋* _⌊he was determined_⌋* to rescue him. And until the setting of the sun he was making every effort to deliver him.

⁵¹ "Our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?"*

²⁰ Then* Job arose and tore his outer garment* and shaved his head; _⌊then_⌋* he fell upon the ground and he worshiped. ²¹ Then* he said, "Naked I came out from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes. Let Yahweh's name be blessed."

⁷ So* Satan* went out from _⌊Yahweh's presence_⌋,* and he inflicted Job with loathsome skin sores from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head. ⁸ _⌊So_⌋* he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he sat in the midst of the ashes. ⁹ Then* his wife said to him, "Are you still persisting in your blamelessness? _⌊Curse_⌋* God and die." ¹⁰ So* he said to her, "You speak like one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should we receive the good from God, but* not receive the evil?" In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

⁴ for the arrows of Shaddai are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

¹⁴ then* you terrify me with dreams,* and with visions you terrify* me. ¹⁵ So* my inner self* will choose* strangling— death more than my _⌊existence_⌋.*

¹⁵ If I am guilty, woe to me! But* if I am righteous, I dare not lift my head; I am filled with shame, and just look at my misery! ¹⁶ And if my head grows bold, you would hunt me as the lion in its prime; _⌊and you repeat your exploits against me_⌋.* ¹⁷ You renew your witnesses against me, and you increase your vexation against me; _⌊relief forces_⌋* are against me.

⁹ "What gain is there in my _⌊death_⌋,* in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? ¹⁰ "O Yahweh, hear and be gracious to me. O Yahweh, be my helper."

³ When I kept silent, my bones were worn out due to my groaning all the day. ⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My vigor was changed into the dry heat of summer. Selah

² For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has pressed down on me. ³ There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation. There is no health in my bones because of my sin. ⁴ For my iniquities have passed over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

¹⁰ As with a shattering in my bones my oppressors taunt me, while they say to me _⌊all day_⌋,* "Where is your God?" ¹¹ Why are you _⌊in despair_⌋,* O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I shall again praise him, _⌊my salvation_⌋* and my God.

³ because of the voice of an enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked, because they bring down evil on me, and in anger they hold a grudge against me.

⁵ Fear and trembling come on me, and horror overwhelms me.

² In the day I have trouble, I seek* the Lord. At night my hand stretches out _⌊continually_⌋;* my soul refuses to be comforted. ³ I remember God and I groan loudly; I meditate and my spirit grows faint.

¹⁴ Why do you reject my soul, O Yahweh? Why do you hide your face from me? ¹⁵ I am afflicted and perishing from my youth. I bear your terrors. I am distraught.* ¹⁶ Your burning anger has passed over me; your sudden fears have destroyed me.

²² for I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

³ He is the one who heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

¹³ A heart* of gladness will make good _⌊countenance_⌋,* but in sorrow of heart* a spirit is broken.

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

³³ And he took along Peter and James and John with him, and he began to be distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And he said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake."

³ And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we* know that affliction produces patient endurance, ⁴ and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written,
"On account of you we are being put to death the whole day long; we are considered as sheep for slaughter."* ³⁷ No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us.

¹² For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness* and purity of motive from God, not* in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

⁷ So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

⁹ And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, because the* power is perfected in weakness." Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

² Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials,

⁶ in which you rejoice greatly, although* now for a short time, if necessary,* you are distressed by various trials,

⁹ Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?"

⁹⁷ How I love your law! The whole day it is my meditation. ⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, because they* are ever with me. ⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the elders, for I keep your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way, so that I may heed your word. ¹⁰² I have not turned aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me. ¹⁰³ How smooth* are your words* to my palate, more than honey in my mouth. ¹⁰⁴ From your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.

⁵ may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,*

⁵ Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

⁷ The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

⁹ Give to a wise one and he will become more wise; _⌊teach_⌋* a righteous one and he will increase learning.

¹⁴ The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge, but the faces of fools, they* will feed on folly.

²³ Buy truth and do not sell it, wisdom and instruction and understanding.

⁸ And other seed fell on the good soil, and when it* came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." As he* said these things, he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!" ⁹ And his disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are in parables, so that
'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'*

³⁹ And _⌊she had_⌋* a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus* and* was listening to his teaching.

¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

²⁰ And moreover, you shall say, 'Look, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he thought, "_⌊Let me appease him_⌋* with the gift going before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will _⌊show me favor_⌋."*

¹⁰ And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your eyes, you must take my gift from my hand, for then I have seen your face which is like seeing the face of God, and you have received me.

¹¹ Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so then do this. Take some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, and pistachios and almonds.

²⁷ So then, this gift which your female servant has brought to my lord, may it be given to the young men _⌊who follow my lord_⌋.*

⁸ The bribe is a stone of magic in the eyes of its owner;* _⌊everywhere_⌋* he will turn, he will prosper.

⁶ Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.*

¹⁴ A gift in secret* will avert _⌊anger_⌋,* and a _⌊concealed bribe_⌋,* strong wrath.

¹ Now David passed a little from beyond the summit, and suddenly Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred raisin cakes, with a hundred summer fruits and a skin of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, "_⌊What do you want to accomplish by bringing these_⌋?"* And Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; the bread and the summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for the faint in the wilderness to drink. ³ Then the king said, "Where is the son of your lord?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is living in Jerusalem for he said, 'Today the house of Israel shall return the kingdom of my father to me.'"

²⁴ Now, Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet nor trimmed his moustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came back in peace. ²⁵ It happened that when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not come with me, Mephibosheth?" ²⁶ Then he said, "My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant had said, 'Let me saddle the donkey that I may ride on her and go with the king,' for your servant is lame. ²⁷ But he slandered against your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like the angel of God; _⌊do as you see fit._⌋."*

¹³ He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself belongs to him as well as* shame.

⁵ For we have found* this man to be a public menace and one who causes riots among all the Jews throughout the Roman Empire* and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, ⁶ who even attempted to desecrate the temple, and we arrested _⌊him*_⌋.*

¹² And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts* nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove the things* to you concerning which they are now accusing me.

² Their inheritance was by lot, just as Yahweh commanded through the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.

²¹ Then he brought near the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, and the family of Matri was selected by lot. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen, and they sought him, but he could not be found. ²² So they inquired again of Yahweh, "_⌊Did the man come here_⌋?" * And Yahweh said, "Look, he is hiding himself among the baggage." ²³ So they ran and took him from there, and when he took his stand among the people, he was taller than all the people from his shoulders and up. ²⁴ Then Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom Yahweh has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people!" And all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" ²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the custom of the kingship, and he wrote the rules down on a scroll and laid it before Yahweh. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own house. ²⁶ And Saul also went to his house at Gibeah, and the troops whose hearts* God had touched went with him. ²⁷ However, some _⌊worthless men_⌋* said, "How can this man deliver us?" So they despised him and brought no gift to him, but he kept silent.*

⁴² Then Saul said, "Let them cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan," and Jonathan was chosen.

⁶³ To the Merarites twelve cities were allotted according to their clans out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun.

³¹ And lots were also cast for these, just as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the _⌊families_⌋* for the priests and for the Levites the fathers, _⌊on the principle of the chief and younger brother alike_⌋.*

¹ Now the commanders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the remainder of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, the other nine's place was in the other cities.

³³ The lot will be cast into the lap, but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.

⁵ but to Cain and to his offering he did not look with favor. And Cain became very angry, and his face fell. ⁶ And Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why is your face fallen? ⁷ If you do well _⌊will I not accept you_⌋?* But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." ⁸ Then* Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out into the field."* And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

⁴¹ Then Esau held a grudge against Jacob on account of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. And Esau said in his heart,* "The days of mourning for my father are coming, then I will kill Jacob my brother." ⁴² But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called for her younger son Jacob. And she said to him, "Look, Esau your brother is consoling himself concerning you, intending to kill you. ⁴³ Now then, my son, listen to my voice; arise and flee to Haran to Laban my brother. ⁴⁴ Stay with him a few days until the wrath of your brother has turned— ⁴⁵ until the anger of your brother turns from you and he has forgotten what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I lose the two of you in one day?"

⁶ And the messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We came to your brother, to Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." ⁷ Then Jacob was very frightened and distressed. So he divided the people, flocks, cattle, and camels that were with him into two companies. ⁸ And he thought, "If Esau comes to one company and destroys it, the remaining company will be able to escape." ⁹ Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your land and to your family, and I will deal well with you.' ¹⁰ _⌊I am not worthy_⌋* of all the loyal love and all the faithfulness that you have shown* your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. ¹¹ Please rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he come and attack mother and children alike.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, for he was a son of his old age. And he made a robe with long sleeves* for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and were not able to speak peaceably to him. ⁵ And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers. And _⌊they hated him even more_⌋.*

¹¹ And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

¹⁸ And they saw him from a distance. And before he drew near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ And each said to his brothers, "Look, this master of dreams is coming. ²⁰ Now then, come, let us kill him and throw him in one of the pits. Then we will say a wild animal devoured him. Then we will see what his dreams become." ²¹ And Reuben heard it and delivered him from their hand and said, "We must not take his life." ²² And Reuben said to them, "You must not shed blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the desert, but do not lay a hand on him"—so that he might rescue him from their hand to return him to his father. ²³ And it happened that as Joseph came to his brothers they stripped Joseph of his robe, the robe with long sleeves,* that was upon him. ²⁴ And they took him and threw him into the pit (the pit was empty; there was no water in it). ²⁵ Then they sat down to eat some food. And they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead. And their camels were carrying aromatic gum and balm and spices _⌊on the way_⌋* to Egypt. ²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but our hand shall not be against him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers agreed.

²² Absalom did not speak with Amnon _⌊either bad or good_⌋,* for Absalom hated Amnon _⌊over the matter when_⌋* he raped Tamar his sister.

²⁸ Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "Please watch. At the moment the heart of Amnon is _⌊tipsy_⌋* with wine, then I shall say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' and you shall kill him! Don't be afraid. Is it not I myself who has commanded you? Be courageous and be _⌊valiant!_⌋*

²³ Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, "Thus may God do to me and thus may he add, if Adonijah hasn't spoken this thing at the expense of his life. ²⁴ So then, _⌊as Yahweh lives_⌋,* who has established me and seated me on the throne of my father David and who has established for me a dynasty as he promised, then surely Adonijah will be put to death today." ²⁵ King Solomon sent through the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, so he struck him, and he died.

¹⁶ When all of Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "_⌊What share do we have in David_⌋?* There is no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now look to your house, David!" Then Israel went to their* tents.

¹⁷ And Abijah and his people struck a great blow against them, and the dead from Israel that fell were five hundred thousand chosen men.

¹⁹ a false witness who breathes lies and sends out discord* between brothers.

³² He who is slow to anger* is better than him who is mighty, and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.

³⁹ And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark and* sailed away to Cyprus,

¹³ By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble. ¹⁴ From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good, and the reward of _⌊a man's labor_⌋* will return to him.

² From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good, but the desire* of the treacherous, wrongdoing.

¹⁸ For it is pleasant if you guard them _⌊within you_⌋;* together they will be ready upon your lips.

²¹ In order to show you what is right—sayings of truth— in order to return a true saying to him who sent you.

¹¹ Apples of gold in a setting of silver is a matter spoken at* its proper time. ¹² A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.

¹⁹ In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. ²⁰ Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart* of wickedness is _⌊of little worth_⌋.* ²¹ Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools _⌊die for lack of sense_⌋.*

³¹ The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a tongue of perversity will be cut off.

³⁰ The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls* is wise.

² From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good, but the desire* of the treacherous, wrongdoing. ³ He who keeps his mouth guards his life;* he who opens his lips, ruin belongs to him.

⁴ Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom. ⁵ Being partial to faces of evil is not good, nor to subvert the righteous at the judgment. ⁶ The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging. ⁷ The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.*

¹⁹ creating fruit of lips. Peace, peace to the far and near," says Yahweh, "and I will heal him.

³⁵ The good person from his* good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his* evil treasury brings out evil things. ³⁶ But I tell you that every worthless word that they speak, people will give an account for it on the day of judgment! ³⁷ For by your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned."

¹⁴ How then will they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about him without one who preaches to them? ¹⁵ And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How timely are the feet of those who bring good news of good things."*

¹⁶ to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?

¹⁵ Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

²⁹ _⌊No rotten word must proceed_⌋* from your mouth, but only something good for the building up of the need, in order that it may give grace to those who hear,

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families by* teaching things which must not be taught for the sake of dishonest gain.

⁶ And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness,* the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire _⌊the course of human existence_⌋*, being set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸ but no human being is able to tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the* Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

¹⁸ _⌊For by speaking high-sounding but empty words_⌋*, they entice with desires of the flesh and with licentiousness those who are scarcely escaping from those who live in error,

¹⁸ Then* Yahweh God said, "it is not good that the man* is alone. I will make for him a helper _⌊as his counterpart_⌋."*

⁶⁷ And Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother. And he took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after the death of his mother.

²⁰ And Jacob worked for Rachel seven years, but they were as a few days in his eyes because he loved her. ²¹ And Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, that I may go in to her, for _⌊my time_⌋* is completed."

²⁸ And Jacob did so. So he completed the week of this one,* then he gave Rachel his daughter to him as a wife.

⁴ And you shall find favor and good sense* in the eyes of God and humankind.

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern and flowing waters from inside your own well. ¹⁶ Shall your springs be scattered outward? In the streets, shall there be streams of water? ¹⁷ May they be yours alone, and not for strangers who are with you. ¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife* of your youth. ¹⁹ She is a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you _⌊always_⌋;* by her love may you be intoxicated continually. ²⁰ Why should you be intoxicated, my child, by a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a foreigner? ²¹ For before the eyes of Yahweh are _⌊human ways_⌋,* and all his paths he examines. ²² His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer, and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught. ²³ He shall die _⌊for lack of_⌋* discipline, and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

³⁵ For he who finds me is he who finds* life, and he obtains favor from Yahweh.

⁴ A woman of strength* is the crown of her master,* but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.

¹⁴ A house and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but from Yahweh comes a woman* who is prudent.

¹⁰ A woman* of excellence,* who will find? For her worth is far more than precious jewels. ¹¹ The heart of her husband* trusts in her, and gain he will not lack. ¹² She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of _⌊her hands_⌋.* ¹⁴ She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food;* ¹⁵ And she arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls. ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of _⌊her hand_⌋* she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good; her lamp does not go out in the night. ¹⁹ Her hands she puts onto the distaff,* and her palms hold a spindle. ²⁰ Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches out to the needy. ²¹ She does not fear for her house when it snows, for _⌊her entire household_⌋* is clothed in crimson. ²² She makes for herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband* is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land. ²⁴ Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs _⌊at the future_⌋.* ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness is upon her tongue. ²⁷ She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat. ²⁸ Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband* also, and he praises her; ²⁹ "Many daughters have done excellence,* but _⌊you surpass_⌋* all of them." ³⁰ Charm* is deceit and beauty* is vain;* but a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised. ³¹ Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city gates.

⁹ Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this is your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun.

¹² Jacob fled to the open field of Aram,* and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he watched over sheep.

² But because of sexual immorality, let each man have* his own wife and let each woman have her own husband.

⁷ And Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them. And he spoke with them harshly and said to them, "From where have you come?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."

³⁰ "The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and treated us as if we were spying out the land.

² And Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh that I should listen to his voice to release Israel? I do not know Yahweh, and also I will not release Israel."

⁷ And she said, 'Please let me glean and let me gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she came and remained from the morning up to now. _⌊She is sitting for a little while in the house_⌋."*

³⁶ All the remainder of your household will come to bow down _⌊before_⌋* him for a bit of silver or a loaf of bread and will say, "Please assign me to one of the _⌊priestly offices_⌋* so that I can eat a morsel of bread." '"

¹⁰ But Nabal answered David's servants and said, "Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Today, there are many servants breaking away from the presence of their masters.

¹⁷ And so then, know and _⌊consider_⌋* what you should do, for evil has been decided against our master and against all his household, and he is such _⌊a wicked man_⌋,* _⌊nobody can reason with him_⌋!"*

¹ A certain woman from the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead. Now you know that your servant was a fearer of Yahweh, but the creditor came to take two of my children for himself as slaves. ² Elisha asked her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" Then she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of olive oil."

² And my hand has made all these things, and all these _⌊came to be_⌋,"*
_⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "but* I look to this one:
to the humble and the contrite of spirit and the one frightened at my word.

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁹ Now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position, ¹⁰ but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits* will wither away.

³ and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, "Be seated here in a good place," and to the poor person you say, "You stand or be seated there* by my footstool,"

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?

⁴ So Jonathan spoke well about David to his father Saul and said to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his service for you has been very good. ⁵ He put his life in his hand and attacked the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great victory for all of Israel, and you saw it and rejoiced! Now why should you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

²⁶ Then David came to Ziklag, and he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "_⌊Here is_⌋* a gift for you from the plunder of the enemies of Yahweh!" ²⁷ It was for those in Bethel, for those in Ramoth of the Negev, for those in Jattir, ²⁸ for those in Aroer, for those in Siphmoth, for those in Eshtemoa, ²⁹ for those in Racal, for those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, for those in the towns of the Kenites, ³⁰ for those in Hormah, for those in Bor Ashan, for those in Athach, ³¹ for those in Hebron, and for all the places _⌊where David and his men had roamed_⌋.*

²⁶ _⌊I am distressed_⌋* over you, my brother Jonathan. you were very dear to me; your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.

¹ Then David said, "Is there still anyone who is left for the house of Saul that I may show loyal love to him for the sake of Jonathan?" ² Now Saul's household had a servant whose name was Ziba, so they summoned him to David, and the king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "_⌊At your service_⌋!"* ³ Then the king said, "But is there still anyone of Saul's household that I may show the loyal love of God with him?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in the feet." ⁴ The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "_⌊He is here_⌋* in the house of Makir the son of Ammiel in Lo Debar." ⁵ So King David sent and brought him from the house of Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar. ⁶ So Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David. And he fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, "Mephibosheth," and he said, "_⌊I am ready to serve you_⌋."* ⁷ Then David said to him, "Don't be afraid, for _⌊I will certainly show_⌋* loyal love to you for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the lands of Saul your father. And you shall always eat food at my table." ⁸ Then he* did obeisance and said, "What is your servant that you have paid attention to the dead dog like me?" ⁹ David summoned Ziba the servant of Saul and said to him, "All that was Saul's and all his household I have given to the son of your master. ¹⁰ You shall till the land for him, you and your sons and your servants; you shall bring in the produce and it shall be food for the son of your master that he may eat. But Mephibosheth the son of your master may always eat food at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty slaves.) ¹¹ Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my master the king commands his servant, so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth was eating at his table as one of the sons of the king. ¹² Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all of the dwelling of the household of Ziba became servants for Mephibosheth. ¹³ And Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, because he was continually eating at the table of the king, even though he was lame in both of his feet.

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, "This is your loyal love with your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

²⁷ Just as David had arrived in Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* and Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim ²⁸ brought beds and basins and objects of pottery, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, curds, sheep, cheese, and cattle for David and for the people who were with him to eat. For they had thought, "The troops are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."

³⁰ Then Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take the whole thing, since my lord the king has come _⌊safely_⌋* to his house." ³¹ Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and crossed with the king over the Jordan to escort him through the Jordan. ³² Now Barzillai was very old, _⌊eighty years old_⌋.* Now he had provided the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me, and I will provide for you to dwell with me in Jerusalem." ³⁴ Then Barzillai said to the king, "What are the days of the years of my life, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am eighty years old today. Can I discern between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be a burden any longer to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant shall go over the Jordan with the king a little way, but why should the king recompense me with this reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant return, and let me die in my city in the tomb of my father and my mother. Here is your servant Kimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him that which is good in your eyes." ³⁸ The king said, "Let Kimham go over with me, and I will do for him the good in your eyes, and all that you desire of me I will do for you." ³⁹ Then all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king crossed and kissed Barzillai and blessed him; then he returned to his place.

⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the sworn oath of Yahweh which was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

³⁸ All these were men of war arrayed in battle line _⌊with a whole heart_⌋.* They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel had one heart to make David king. ³⁹ And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen were prepared for them. ⁴⁰ And also their relatives, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen—provisions of flour, cakes of figs, raisin cakes, wine and oil, cattle and sheep in abundance, for there was great joy in Israel.

¹⁷ The friend loves at all times*, but a brother is born for adversity.

⁹ Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend is _⌊personal advice_⌋.*

⁴⁹ And he came up to Jesus immediately and* said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and kissed him. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do that* for which you have come."* Then they came up and* laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

¹³ No one has greater love than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you.