Proverbs 25 Cross References - LEB

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: ² The glory of God* conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things. ³ As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so is the heart* of kings—there is no searching. ⁴ Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith. ⁵ Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.* ⁶ Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand. ⁷ For it is better that he say to you, "Ascend here," than he humble you before a noble. What your eyes have seen, ⁸ do not hastily bring out to court, for* what will you do at its end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your argument with your neighbor himself, the secret of another do not disclose, ¹⁰ lest he who hears shame you and your ill repute will not end. 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. ¹³ Like the cold of snow on a day* of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, and the soul* of his master is refreshed.* ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind when there is no rain, so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception. ¹⁵ _⌊With patience_⌋* a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.* ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out. ¹⁷ Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you. ¹⁸ Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. ¹⁹ A bad tooth and a lame foot is the trust of a faithless person _⌊in a time_⌋* of trouble. ²⁰ Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,* is he who sings songs to a heavy heart. ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water. ²² For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you. ²³ The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces. ²⁴ Better to live upon the corner of a roof than with a woman* of contention and in a shared house. ²⁵ Like cold water* upon a weary soul,* so too is good news from a distant place. ²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷ To eat much honey is not good, nor is seeking one's honor* honorable. ²⁸ A breached city where there is no wall is like a man who _⌊has no_⌋* self-control for his spirit.

³² He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.

¹ Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

¹ The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

⁹ The Teacher* was full of wisdom, and he taught the people with knowledge. He carefully considered many proverbs and carefully arranged them.

¹ The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

²² Then* Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the _⌊palace_⌋,* Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the reminder, came to Hezekiah with torn garments and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

² And he sent Eliakim, who was _⌊in charge of_⌋* the palace,* and Shebna the secretary, and the elders of the priests _⌊covered_⌋* with sackcloth to Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet.

¹ The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

¹ The word of Yahweh that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, that he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem:

²⁹ "The hidden things _⌊belong to Yahweh_⌋* our God, but the revealed things _⌊belong to us_⌋* to know and to our children _⌊forever_⌋,* in order to do all the words of this law."

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?" ¹⁰ The word was good in the eyes of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ And God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and you did not ask for yourself _⌊a long life_⌋* and you did not ask riches for yourself and you did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself _⌊the ability to make wise judgments_⌋;* ¹² behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise. ¹³ Too, what you have not asked I give to you: both riches and honor, so that no man among the kings will be like you all of your days. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days." ¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke, and look, it was a dream, and he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and he offered burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings, and he held a feast for all of his servants. ¹⁶ Then two prostitutes came to the king, and they stood before him. ¹⁷ The one woman said, "Please my lord, I and this woman are living in one house, and I gave birth, with her in the house. ¹⁸ It happened on the third day after my giving birth, this woman also gave birth, and we were together. There was not anyone with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. ¹⁹ Then the son of this woman died in the night because she laid on him. ²⁰ So she got up in the middle of the night, and she took my son from beside me while your servant was asleep, and she put him in her lap, and she put her dead son in my lap. ²¹ When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead! When I looked closely at him in the morning, behold, it was not my son whom I had borne." ²² Then the other woman said, "No, for my son is the living one, and your son is the dead one." The other kept on saying, "No, for your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one," and so they argued in front of the king. ²³ Then the king said, "This one is saying, 'This is my son, the living one, but your son is the dead one,' and the other one keeps saying, 'But no! Your son is the dead one, and my son is living!'" ²⁴ So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought the sword before the king. ²⁵ Then the king said, "Divide the living child into two, and give half to the one and half to the other." ²⁶ Then the woman whose son was the living one spoke to the king because her compassion was aroused for her son, and she said, "Please, my lord, give her the living child, but certainly do not kill him!" The other one was saying, "As for me, so for you! Divide him!" ²⁷ Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to her, and do not kill him; she is his mother." ²⁸ When all of Israel heard the judgment that the king had rendered, they _⌊stood in awe_⌋* of the king, because they realized that the wisdom of God was in him to execute justice.

²⁹ God gave wisdom to Solomon and very great discernment, as well as _⌊breadth of understanding_⌋,* as the sand which is on the edge of the seashore. ³⁰ The wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the people* of the east and more than all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ He was wiser than all the men: Ethan the Ezrahite; Heman, Calcol, and Darda the children of Mahol; and _⌊he was very well known_⌋.* ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. ³³ He spoke concerning the trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon up to the hyssop which grows on the wall; he also spoke concerning the animals, concerning the birds, concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fish. ³⁴ They came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

¹⁵ so that it may be investigated in the book of records of your ancestors.* You will find in the book of records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and they have rebelled in its midst from ancient times. Because of that this city was destroyed.

¹⁹ And _⌊I issued_⌋* a decree, and they searched and found that this city from ancient days revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition has been made in it.

¹⁷ And now, if it seems good for the king, let it be investigated in the house of the treasury of the king in Babylonia to see if a decree was issued forth from King Cyrus to build this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send to us his desire on this matter."

⁷ "Can you find out the essence of God, or can you find out _⌊the ultimate limits_⌋* of Shaddai? ⁸ _⌊It is higher than the heaven_⌋;* what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

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

⁴ "Where were you at my laying the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding. ⁵ Who determined its measurement? Yes, you do know. Or who stretched the measuring line upon it? ⁶ On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷ when the morning stars were singing together and all the sons of God* shouted for joy? ⁸ "Or who shut the sea in with doors at its bursting, when it went out of the womb, ⁹ at my making the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, ¹⁰ and I prescribed my rule for it, and I set bars and doors, ¹¹ and I said, 'You shall come up to here, but* you shall not go further, and here it will set a boundary _⌊for your proud surging waves_⌋'?* ¹² "Have you _⌊ever in your life_⌋* commanded the morning? Have you made the dawn know its place, ¹³ to take hold of the earth's skirts so that* the wicked might be shaken off from it? ¹⁴ It is changed like clay under a seal, and they appear like a garment. ¹⁵ And their light is withheld from the wicked, and their uplifted arm is broken. ¹⁶ "Have you entered into the sea's sources? Or have you walked around in the recesses of the deep? ¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep shadow? ¹⁸ Have you considered closely the earth's vast expanse? Declare it, if you know all of it. ¹⁹ "Where then* is the way where the light dwells? And where then* is its place, ²⁰ that you may take it to its territory, and that you might discern the paths to its home? ²¹ You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great. ²² Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow, or* have you seen the storehouses of the hail, ²³ which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? ²⁴ Where then* is the way where the light is distributed, where he scatters the east wind upon the earth? ²⁵ "Who has cut open a channel for the torrents and a way for the _⌊thunder bolts_⌋,* ²⁶ to bring rain on a land _⌊where no one lives_⌋,* a desert _⌊where no humans live_⌋,* ²⁷ to satisfy desert and wasteland, and to cause the ground to put forth the rising of grass? ²⁸ Is there a father for the rain, or who fathered the drops of dew? ²⁹ From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who fathered the frost of heaven? ³⁰ Like stone the waters become hard, and the faces of the deep freeze.

⁴ Their young ones grow strong; they grow up in the open; they go forth and do not return to them. ⁵ "Who has sent forth the wild ass free? And who has released the wild donkey's bonds, ⁶ to which I have given the wilderness as its house and the salt flat as its dwelling place? ⁷ It scorns the city's turmoil; it does not hear the driver's shouts. ⁸ It explores the mountains as its pasture and searches after every kind of green plant. ⁹ "Is the wild ox willing to serve you, or will he spend the night at your feeding trough? ¹⁰ Can you tie the wild ox with its rope to a furrow, or will it harrow the valleys after you? ¹¹ Can you trust it because its strength is great, or will you hand your labor over to it? ¹² Can you rely on it that it will return your grain and that it will gather it to your threshing floor? ¹³ "The wings* of the female ostrich flap*— are they* the pinions of the stork or* the falcon? ¹⁴ Indeed, it leaves its eggs to the earth, and it lets them be warmed on the ground, ¹⁵ and it forgets that a foot might crush an egg,* and _⌊a wild animal_⌋* might trample it.* ¹⁶ It deals cruelly with its young ones, as if they were not its own, as if without fear that its labor were in vain, ¹⁷ because God made it forget wisdom, and he did not give it a share in understanding. ¹⁸ When it spreads its wings _⌊aloft_⌋,* it laughs at the horse and its rider. ¹⁹ "Do you give power to the horse? Do you clothe its neck with a mane? ²⁰ Do you make it leap like the locust? The majesty of its snorting is terrifying. ²¹ They paw in the valley, and it exults with strength; it goes out to meet the battle. ²² It laughs at danger and is not dismayed, and it does not turn back from _⌊before_⌋* the sword. ²³ Upon it the quiver rattles along with the flash of the spear and the short sword. ²⁴ With roar and rage _⌊it races over the ground_⌋,* and it cannot stand still at the sound of the horn. ²⁵ _⌊Whenever_⌋* a horn sounds, it says, 'Aha!' And it smells the battle from a distance— the thunder of the commanders and the war cry. ²⁶ "Does the hawk soar by your wisdom? Does it spread its wings to the south? ²⁷ Or does the eagle fly high at your command and construct its nest high? ²⁸ It lives on the rock and spends the night _⌊on the rock point and the mountain stronghold_⌋.* ²⁹ From there it spies out the prey; its eyes look from far away. ³⁰ And its young ones lick blood greedily, and where the dead carcasses are, there they are."

² "Shall a faultfinder contend with Shaddai? Anyone who argues with God must answer it."

³ 'Who is this darkening counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I uttered, but* I did not understand; _⌊things too wonderful for me_⌋,* but I did not know.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how incomprehensible are his ways! ³⁴ "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?*

²⁹ God gave wisdom to Solomon and very great discernment, as well as _⌊breadth of understanding_⌋,* as the sand which is on the edge of the seashore.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so his loyal love prevails over those who fear him.

¹¹ "Ask for a sign for yourself from Yahweh God; make it deep as Sheol or make it high as above."

⁹ "For as the heavens are _⌊higher_⌋* than the earth, so my ways are _⌊higher_⌋* than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

³ A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold, but Yahweh will test hearts.

²⁵ And I will turn my hand against you; I will purify your dross like lye, and I will remove all of your tin. ²⁶ And I will restore your judges, as at the first, and your counselors, as at the beginning. After this _⌊you will be called_⌋* the city of righteousness, faithful city. ²⁷ Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those of her who repent, by righteousness.

¹⁸ "Son of man,* the house of Israel has become as silver dross to me; all of them are as bronze and tin and iron and lead in the midst of a furnace, even as silver dross, silver dross they became!

² And who can endure the day of his coming? And who is the one who can stand _⌊when he appears_⌋?* For he is like a refiner's fire, like launderers' alkali.* ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the children of Levi, and he will refine them like gold and like silver, and they will present to Yahweh offerings* in righteousness.

²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware ones, some of which are for honorable use, and some of which are for ordinary use. ²¹ Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

³³ And their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever, but for David and his descendants and for his house and his throne, there will be peace forever from Yahweh."

⁴⁶ Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

¹⁰ And they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the anger of the king was abated.

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.

⁷ There will not live in the midst of my house a worker of deceit. One who speaks lies will not remain* before my eyes. ⁸ _⌊Each morning_⌋,* I will destroy all the wicked of the land, cutting off from the city of Yahweh all evildoers.

¹² An abomination to kings is doing evil, for by righteousness the throne will be established.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king, and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.

¹⁴ A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

⁷ _⌊His dominion will grow continually, and to peace there will be no end_⌋* on* the throne of David and over* his kingdom, to establish it* and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

⁵ then a throne shall be established in steadfast love, and one shall sit on it in faithfulness, in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and zealous for righteousness.

¹¹ But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the _⌊Israelites_⌋* out from Egypt?"

²⁰ And as for your female donkeys that were lost _⌊three days ago_⌋,* _⌊do not be concerned about them_⌋,* because they have been found. For whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not for you and for all the house of your father?" ²¹ Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the humblest of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me _⌊in this way_⌋?"* ²² So Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them to a room in the building and gave them a place at the head of _⌊the invited guests_⌋.* There were about thirty men.

¹⁷ Samuel said, "Even though you are small in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king over Israel.

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, the clan of my father in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king?" ¹⁹ _⌊But_⌋* at the time Saul's daughter Merab was to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as wife. ²⁰ Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, so they told Saul, and the matter _⌊pleased him_⌋.* ²¹ And Saul thought, "I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "For a second time you can become my son-in-law today." ²² Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in secret, saying, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So then, become a son-in-law of the king.'" ²³ And Saul's servants spoke these words _⌊to David privately_⌋.* But David said, "Is it insignificant _⌊in your sight_⌋* to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?"

⁸ So then, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I took you from the pasture _⌊from following_⌋* the sheep to be a leader over my people, over Israel, ⁹ and I have been with you _⌊everywhere you went_⌋.* I have cut off all of your enemies from in front of you, and I will make a great name for you, as the name of the great ones who are on the earth. ¹⁰ I will make a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them* so that they* can dwell _⌊in their own place_⌋.* They will not tremble any longer, and the children of wickedness will not afflict them again, as in the former days. ¹¹ _⌊In the manner that_⌋* I appointed judges over my people Israel, I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will build a house for you. ¹² When your days are full and you lie down with your ancestors,* I will raise up your offspring after you who will go out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be a father to him, and he will be a son for me, whom I will punish when he does wrong, with a rod of men and with blows of the _⌊human beings_⌋.* ¹⁵ But my loyal love shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever." '" ¹⁷ According to all these words and according to all this vision, this Nathan spoke to David.

¹ A song of ascents. Of David.*
My heart is not haughty nor my eyes _⌊arrogant_⌋.* And I do not _⌊concern myself_⌋* with things too great and difficult for me.

¹⁹ Better a lowly spirit with the poor than dividing the spoil with the proud.

²⁷ To eat much honey is not good, nor is seeking one's honor* honorable.

² May another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.

⁶ Then I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! Look, I do not know how to speak, for I am a youth."* ⁷ But Yahweh said to me, "You must not say, 'I am a youth,'* for to _⌊whomever_⌋* I send you, you will go, and _⌊whatever_⌋* I command you, you will speak. ⁸ _⌊Do not be afraid of them_⌋,* for I am with you to deliver you," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. ⁹ Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and he touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me,
"Look, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, I appoint you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, and to destroy and to tear down, to build and to plant."

¹² And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee to the land of Judah and earn food there and prophesy there!" ¹³ But do not prophesy again at Bethel, because this is a sanctuary of a king and this is a temple of a kingdom." ¹⁴ And Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet and I am not a son of a prophet, but I am a herdsman and I am one taking care of sycamore trees. ¹⁵ And Yahweh took me from following behind the sheep and goats and Yahweh said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel!

⁷ Now he told a parable to those who had been invited when he* noticed how they were choosing for themselves the places of honor, saying to them, ⁸ "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,* do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you has been invited by him, ⁹ and the one who invited you _⌊both_⌋* will come and* say to you, 'Give the place to this person,' and then with shame you will begin to take the last place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and* recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then it will be an honor to you in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

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.

¹ After these things I looked, and behold, an open door in heaven, and the former voice that I had heard like a trumpet speaking with me was saying, "Come up here and I will show you the things which must take place after these things."

¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come up and fight in our presence." And Joab said, "Let them come up." ¹⁵ So they came forward and passed by in number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ish-Bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. ¹⁶ Then each seized his _⌊opponent_⌋* by the head and each thrust his sword in the side of his opponent, so they fell together. So they* called the name of that place Helkath Hazzurim,* which is in Gibeon.

²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Will the sword devour forever? Do you not know that there will be bitterness in the end? _⌊How long_⌋* will you not tell the people to turn _⌊away from pursuing_⌋* their brothers?"

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come let us meet _⌊face-to-face_⌋."* ⁹ So Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah, saying, "The thornbush which is in Lebanon sent to the cedar which is in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife,' but an animal of the field which is in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thornbush. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and your heart is lifted up; enjoy the honor and stay home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall and Judah with you?" ¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel went up and they met face-to-face, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-Shemesh which belongs to Judah. ¹² Judah was defeated before Israel and they fled, each to this tent.

¹² There is a way that seems upright _⌊to_⌋* a man, but its end is the way of death.

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

⁶ The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.

³³ For pressing milk produces curd, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing _⌊anger_⌋* produces strife.

³¹ The prophets prophesy _⌊falsely_⌋,* and the priests rule _⌊by their own authority_⌋,* and my people love it* so much. But what will you do _⌊when the end comes_⌋?*

²⁵ _⌊Settle the case quickly with your accuser_⌋* while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

³¹ Or what king, going out to engage another king in battle, does not sit down first and* deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand. ³² But if not, while* the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and* asks _⌊for terms of_⌋* peace.

¹³ A gossip walks about telling a secret, but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

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

⁵ and whoever welcomes one child such as this in my name welcomes me. ⁶ But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that _⌊a large millstone_⌋* be hung on* his neck and he be drowned in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of causes for stumbling, for it is a necessity that causes for stumbling come; nevertheless, woe to the person through whom the cause for stumbling comes. ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it* from you! It is better for you to enter into life crippled or lame than, having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire! ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it* from you! It is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than, having two eyes, to be thrown into fiery hell! ¹⁰ "See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven constantly see the face of my Father who is in heaven.*

¹² What do you think? If _⌊a certain man has_⌋* a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and* look for the one that wandered away? ¹³ And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not wander away. ¹⁴ In the same way it is not the will _⌊of_⌋* your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. ¹⁵ "Now if your brother sins against you, go correct him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take with you in addition one or two others, so that by _⌊the testimony_⌋* of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. ¹⁷ And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it* to the church. But if he refuses to listen to the church also, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

³⁹ Turn away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

²³ Joy belongs to a man with answers in his mouth, and a word in its time, how good it is!

²⁶ He will kiss the lips, he who gives an honest answer.

¹⁰ The Teacher* sought to find delightful words,* and he wrote* what is upright—truthful words.

⁴ The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of a pupil, to know how to help the weary with a word. He awakens _⌊morning by morning_⌋,* awakens an ear for me to listen as do the pupils.

³¹ then this will not be an obstacle for you or a stumbling block of conscience for my lord either by the shedding of blood without cause or by _⌊my lord taking matters into his own hands_⌋.* And when Yahweh does good to my lord, then remember your female servant." ³² Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel who has sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you who have prevented me this day from bloodguilt and from delivering myself by my own hand. ³⁴ But _⌊as Yahweh lives_⌋,* the God of Israel who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely there would not have been _⌊one male_⌋* left alive for Nabal by the light of morning!"

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.

⁵ Let a righteous one strike me in kindness, and let him chasten me. It is oil for my head;* let not my head refuse. For still my prayer is against their evil deeds.

⁸ My child, may you keep* your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teachings, ⁹ for they are a garland of favor for your head, and pendants for your neck.

⁸ Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you.

⁵ A fool will despise the instruction of his father, but he who guards reproof is prudent.

³¹ The ear of him who listens to admonitions of life, in the midst of the wise it will lodge. ³² He who ignores instruction despises himself,* but he who hears admonition gains heart.*

¹² The ear that hears and the eye that sees, Yahweh has made _⌊them both_⌋.*

⁵ Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden. ⁶ The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

¹⁷ A messenger of wickedness will fall into trouble, but an envoy of the faithful brings healing.

²⁵ Like cold water* upon a weary soul,* so too is good news from a distant place.

⁶ Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.

²⁵ But I considered it* necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need, ²⁶ because he was longing for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have grief upon grief. ²⁸ Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that when* you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such people highly honored, ³⁰ because on account of the work of Christ he came near to the point of death, risking his life in order that _⌊he might make up for your inability to serve me_⌋*.

¹¹ Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, "Thus says Yahweh: 'With these you shall gore the Arameans until finishing them.'"

⁶ Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself, but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?

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

¹⁰ "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and* prayed these things with reference to himself: 'God, I give thanks to you that I am not like other people—swindlers, unrighteous people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector! ¹² I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.' ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far away, did not want even to raise his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. 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. ¹⁶ Again I say, do not let anyone think I am foolish. But indeed, if you do, accept me even as foolish, in order that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying in this project of boasting, I am not saying as the Lord would say, but as in foolishness. ¹⁸ Since many are boasting according to human standards, I also will boast.

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed _⌊forever_⌋*, knows that I am not lying.

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.

¹² These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted, ¹³ wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the deep gloom of darkness has been reserved for eternity.

¹⁶ These people are grumblers, discontented, proceeding according to their* desires, and their mouths speaking pompous words, _⌊showing partiality to gain an advantage_⌋*.

⁴ And he instructed them, saying, "Thus you must say to my lord, to Esau, 'Thus says your servant Jacob, I have dwelled as an alien with Laban, and I have remained there until now. ⁵ And I have acquired cattle, male donkeys, flocks, and male and female slaves, and I have sent to tell my lord, to find favor in your eyes.'" 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. ¹² Now you yourself said, 'I will surely deal well with you and make your offspring as the sand of the sea that cannot be counted for abundance.'" ¹³ And he lodged there that night. Then he took _⌊from what he had with him_⌋* a gift for Esau his brother: ¹⁴ two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys. ¹⁶ And he put them under the hand of his servants, _⌊herd by herd_⌋,* and said to his servants, "Cross on ahead before me, and put some distance _⌊between herds_⌋.* ¹⁷ And he instructed the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother comes upon you and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you and where are you going? To whom do these animals belong ahead of you?' ¹⁸ Then you must say, 'To your servant, to Jacob. It is a gift sent to my lord, to Esau. Now behold, he is also coming after us.'" ¹⁹ And he also instructed the second servant and the third, and everyone else who was behind the herds, saying, "You must speak to Esau according to this word when you find 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_⌋."* ²¹ So the gift passed on before him, but he himself spent that night in the camp.

¹⁴ But a young man of the servants told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the desert to greet* our master, but he addressed them angrily,

²⁴ She fell at his feet and said, "On me, my lord, be the guilt! Please let your female servant speak _⌊to you personally_⌋!* Hear the words of your female servant! ²⁵ Please do not let my lord set his heart against _⌊this worthless man_⌋,* Nabal; for as his name, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him! But I, your female servant, did not see the young men* of my lord whom you sent. ²⁶ So then, my lord, _⌊as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives_⌋,* since Yahweh restrained you from bloodguilt _⌊by taking matters into your own hand_⌋,* so then, may your enemies be like Nabal, even _⌊those who seek to do my lord harm_⌋.* 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_⌋.* ²⁸ Please forgive the transgression of your female servant, because Yahweh will certainly make a lasting house* for my lord, because my lord is fighting the battles of Yahweh, and evil will not be found in you _⌊as long as you live_⌋.* ²⁹ Should a man arise to pursue you and to seek your life, may the life of my lord be wrapped in the pouch* of the living with Yahweh your God. But as for the life of your enemy, he will sling it from within* the pocket of the sling! ³⁰ _⌊And then_⌋* when Yahweh has done for my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you as leader over Israel, ³¹ then this will not be an obstacle for you or a stumbling block of conscience for my lord either by the shedding of blood without cause or by _⌊my lord taking matters into his own hands_⌋.* And when Yahweh does good to my lord, then remember your female servant." ³² Then David said to Abigail, "Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel who has sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you who have prevented me this day from bloodguilt and from delivering myself by my own hand. ³⁴ But _⌊as Yahweh lives_⌋,* the God of Israel who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely there would not have been _⌊one male_⌋* left alive for Nabal by the light of morning!" ³⁵ Then David took from her hand what she had brought for him, and he said to her, "Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to your voice, and I have _⌊granted your request_⌋."* ³⁶ Then Abigail went to Nabal, and look, _⌊he was holding a feast_⌋* in his house like the feast of the king. _⌊Nabal was enjoying himself_⌋,* and he was very drunk, so she did not tell him a thing, _⌊nothing at all_⌋,* until the light of morning. ³⁷ _⌊And then_⌋* in the morning when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words. Then his heart died _⌊within him_⌋,* and he became like a stone. ³⁸ _⌊And then_⌋,* about ten days later, Yahweh struck Nabal and he died. ³⁹ When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, "Blessed be Yahweh who has vindicated the case of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and he has kept back his servant from evil; but Yahweh has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke with Abigail to take her for his wife. ⁴⁰ So the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, and they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you to take you for his wife." ⁴¹ She got up and bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your female servant, as a slave to wash the feet of my lord's servants." ⁴² Then Abigail _⌊quickly got up_⌋* and rode on the donkey, along with five of her maidservants who _⌊attended her_⌋,* and she went after the messengers of David and became his wife. ⁴³ David had also taken Ahinoam from Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. ⁴⁴ (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)

¹ A soft answer will turn away wrath, but a word of trouble will stir _⌊anger_⌋.*

¹⁴ The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but one who is wise will appease* it.

⁴ If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness can undo great offenses.

⁸ And he returned after awhile _⌊to marry her_⌋,* and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and there was a swarm of wild honey bees in the body of the lion, and honey. ⁹ He scraped it out into his hands, and he went on, eating it as he went. And he went to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the body of the lion.

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.*

⁸ Your morsel you have eaten, you will vomit it up, and you will waste your pleasant words.

¹³ My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the dripping of the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. ¹⁴ Thus know wisdom for the sake of your soul,* if you find it, then there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey until he knows to reject the evil and to choose the good.

²² And this shall happen: because of the abundance of milk production, he will eat curds, for every one that is left in the midst of the land will eat curds and honey.

³⁴ "But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenly

¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine (in which is dissipation), but be filled by the Spirit,

² And he said, "Behold, my lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you can rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the square." ³ But _⌊he urged them strongly_⌋,* and they turned aside with him and came into his house. And he made a meal for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

¹⁸ And he said to him, "We are crossing over from Bethlehem in Judah up to the remote areas of the hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to Yahweh's house,* but no one _⌊took me in to spend the night_⌋.* ¹⁹ There is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, for your servant,* and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything." ²⁰ And the old man said, "Peace to you. I will take care of your needs; however, you must not spend the night in the open square." ²¹ So he brought him to his house, and he fed the donkeys; they washed their feet, ate, and drank.

²⁴ whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope while I* am passing through to see you and to be sent on my way by you, whenever I have first enjoyed your company for a while.

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

²¹ The _⌊buttery words_⌋* of his mouth were smooth, but there was battle in his heart. His words were smoother than oil, but they were drawn swords.

⁴ My soul is among lions. I lie down among those who devour— the children* of humankind whose teeth are spears and arrows and whose tongues are sharp swords.

³ What shall be given to you,* and what more shall be done to you, deceitful tongue? ⁴ The sharpened arrows of a warrior, with burning charcoals from broom trees.

³ They sharpen their tongue as sharp as a snake's; the venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

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

²⁸ Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor nor deceive with your lips.

³ And they bend their tongue like their bow, for falsehood and not truth is superior in the land, for they go forth* from evil to evil, and they do not know me," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

⁸ Their tongue is a murderous arrow, it speaks deceit. With his mouth he speaks peace with his neighbor, but in his inner parts he sets up his ambush.

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.

²⁰ Then Tiglath-Pileser* the king of Assyria came against him and brought trouble for him, _⌊instead of helping him_⌋,* ²¹ for Ahaz took a portion from the house of Yahweh and the house of the king and the princes, and he gave it to the king of Assyria, but it was no help to him.

¹⁴ "Loyal love* should come for the afflicted from his friend, even if* he forsakes the fear of Shaddai. ¹⁵ My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis* they flow away, ¹⁶ which are growing dark because of ice upon them, it will pile up snow. ¹⁷ In time they dry up, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. ¹⁸ The paths of their way wind around; they go up into the wasteland, and they perish. ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked; the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them. ²⁰ They are disappointed, because they trusted; they came _⌊here_⌋* and they are confounded.

¹ "Oh rebellious children!" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh,
"to make a plan, but* not from me, and pour out a libation, but* not from my Spirit, _⌊so as to add_⌋* sin to sin. ² Who go to go down to Egypt, but* they do not ask of my mouth, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt. ³ And the protection of Pharaoh shall be shame to you, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, humiliation.

⁶ Look, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which if a man leans on it, goes into his hand and bores through it! Such is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all those who trust in him.

⁶ And all of the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because of their* being a staff of reed for the house of Israel. ⁷ When they took hold of you with the hand, you snapped, and you split their every shoulder. And when they leaned on you, you broke, and you caused all of their loins to wobble."

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my aid, but they all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

¹² And if he is a needy man, you shall not sleep in his pledge.* ¹³ You shall certainly return the pledge to him _⌊as the sun sets_⌋,* so that he may sleep in his cloak and may bless you, and it shall be considered righteousness _⌊on your behalf_⌋* _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God. ¹⁴ "You shall not exploit a hired worker, who is needy and poor, from among your fellow men or from among your aliens* who are in your land and in your _⌊towns_⌋.* ¹⁵ On his day you shall give his wage, and the sun shall not go _⌊down_⌋,* because he is poor and _⌊his life depends on it_⌋;* do this so that he does not cry out against you to Yahweh, _⌊and you incur guilt_⌋.* ¹⁶ "Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, and children shall not be put to death because of their fathers; each one shall be put to death for his own sin. ¹⁷ You shall not subvert the rights of an alien or an orphan, and you shall not take as pledge the garment of a widow.

⁷ They spend the night naked, _⌊without_⌋* clothing, and they have no garment in the cold. ⁸ They are wet from the rainstorm of the mountains,* and they cling to the rock _⌊without_⌋* refuge. ⁹ "They* snatch the orphan from the breast, and they take a pledge against the needy.* ¹⁰ They* go about naked, without clothing, and hungry, they carry the sheaves.*

³ For there our captors asked of us words of a song, and our tormentors* asked of us jubilation, "Sing for us from a song of Zion." ⁴ How could we sing the song of Yahweh in _⌊a foreign land_⌋?*

²⁶ Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes, thus is the lazy to one who employs* him.

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

⁷ Is it not to break your bread for the hungry? You must bring _⌊home_⌋* the poor, the homeless. When you see the naked, you must cover him, and you must not hide yourself from your _⌊relatives_⌋.*

¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night in fasting, and no food was brought in before him and his sleep fled from him.

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

¹⁵ If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day, ¹⁶ and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and _⌊eat well_⌋*," but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what is the benefit?

¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins _⌊he will be forgiven_⌋*.

⁴ " 'If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him. ⁵ If you see the donkey of your enemy lying down under its burden, you will refrain from abandoning him. You will surely arrange* it with him.

²² And he said, "You shall not kill. Would you kill those whom you took captive with the sword or with the bow? Put food and water before them that they may eat and drink and then go to their master."

¹⁵ Then the men designated by name arose and took the captives and from the plunder clothed all their nakedness. So they clothed them, gave them sandals, gave them food to eat, gave them water to drink, anointed them, and guided them with the donkeys provided for all those who stumbled, and brought them to Jericho, the city of the palm trees, next to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

¹⁷ While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice; when he trips himself, may your heart* not be glad

⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

³³ But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, when he* saw him,* had compassion. ³⁴ And he came up and* bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal and* brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And on the next day, he took out two denarii and* gave them** to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return. ³⁶ Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man who fell among the robbers?"

²⁰ But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by* doing this, you will heap up coals of fire upon his head."* ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

¹² Perhaps Yahweh will look _⌊in my eye_⌋* and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.

¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

¹⁸ And as a further result, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

²² From the north comes gold— awesome majesty is around God.

³ He does not slander with his tongue. He does not harm his friend, nor _⌊bring up_⌋* a disgrace against his neighbor.

⁵ One who slanders his neighbor in secret, him I will destroy. One haughty of eyes and _⌊arrogant_⌋* of heart, him I will not endure.

²⁰ For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.

³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, contrivers of evil, disobedient to parents,

²⁰ For I am afraid lest somehow when I* arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. I am afraid* lest somehow there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder.

¹³ A foolish child is a ruin to his father, and the quarreling of a woman* is a continuous dripping.

⁹ Better to dwell on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a woman* of contention.

¹⁹ Better to live in a land of wilderness than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.

¹⁵ Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain and a woman* of contention are alike. ¹⁶ In restraining her, he restrains wind,* and his right hand will grasp oil*.

¹⁶ And she went and _⌊she sat a good distance away_⌋,* for she said, "Let me not see the child's death." So she sat away from him and lifted up her voice and wept. ¹⁷ And God heard the cry* of the boy and the angel of God called to Hagar from the heavens and said to her, "_⌊What is the matter_⌋* Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the cry* of the boy _⌊from where he is_⌋.* ¹⁸ Get up, take up the boy and take him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." ¹⁹ And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave a drink to the boy.

² And the people quarreled with Moses, and they said, "Give us water so that we can drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?" ³ And the people thirsted for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, "Why _⌊ever_⌋* did you bring us up from Egypt to kill me* and my sons and my cattle with thirst?"

⁶ Look, I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out from it, and the people will drink."
And Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel.

¹⁸ And he was very thirsty, and he called to Yahweh and said, "You gave this great victory into the hand of your servant, but now I must die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?" ¹⁹ So God split the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it; and he drank, and his spirit returned, and he was revived. Thus he called its name _⌊The Spring of Ha-Qore_⌋,* which is at Lehi to this day.

¹⁵ David _⌊said longingly_⌋,* "_⌊Oh that someone would bring me a drink_⌋* of water from the well of Bethlehem that is at the gate."

¹ For the music director. A maskil of the sons of Korah.*
As a deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?*

¹ A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.*
O God, you are my God; I will seek you diligently. My soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you as in a dry and weary land without water.

³⁰ From the light of the eyes, the heart* will rejoice, and good news will enliven the bones.*

⁷ How delightful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns as a king."

¹ "Ho! Everyone thirsty, come to the waters! And whoever has no money, come, buy and eat, and come, buy without money, wine and milk without price!

¹⁴ Does the snow of Lebanon leave from the crags* of Sirion? Or are the cold waters flowing from distant mountains dried up?

¹⁵ * Look! On the mountains! The feet of the one who brings good tidings, the one who proclaims peace! "Celebrate a festival, O Judah, Fulfill your vows! For he will not invade you again; the wicked one is cut off completely!"

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: ¹¹ that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.

³⁷ Now on the last day of the feast—the great day—Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let him drink,

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."*

¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

⁶ And he said to me, "It is done! I am* the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water from the spring of the water of life freely.*

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And the one who hears, let him say, "Come!" And the one who is thirsty, let him come. The one who wants, let him take the water of life freely.*

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.

¹⁴ But Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the son-in-law of the king who moves quickly to safeguard you and is honored in your house. ¹⁵ Only today I began to inquire of God for him. Far be it from me that _⌊the king should impute anything against his servant_⌋* or against my father's household, for your servant has not known any of this matter, little or much." ¹⁶ Then the king said, "You must certainly die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!" ¹⁷ So the king said to the runners who were stationed around him, "Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh, because _⌊they also support David_⌋* and because they knew that he was fleeing and _⌊did not disclose it to me_⌋."* But the servants of the king were not willing to raise their hand to attack the priests of Yahweh. ¹⁸ Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and attack the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests himself, and on that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

²¹ Then they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. ²² So King Joash did not remember the loyal love that Jehoiada had shown to him, and he killed his son. And as he was dying he said, "May Yahweh see and avenge!"

² "Son of man,* raise a lament over Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and you must say to him,
'With a fierce, strong lion among nations you compared yourself, and you are like the sea monster in the seas, and you thrash about in your rivers, and you make water turbid with your feet, and you make your rivers muddy.

¹⁸ _⌊Is it not enough for you_⌋* that you feed on the good pasture? And still you must trample the remainder of your pasture with your feet, and _⌊clear water_⌋* you drink, and the _⌊leftover water_⌋* you must make muddy with your feet. ¹⁹ And my flock must graze the pasture treaded upon by* your feet, and must drink the mud puddle stirred up by* your feet."

³⁴ For this reason, behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town, ³⁵ so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation! ³⁷ "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together _⌊the way_⌋* a hen gathers her young together under her* wings, and you were not willing!

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and* said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." ⁷⁰ But he denied it* in the presence of them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean!" ⁷¹ And when he* went out to the gateway, another female slave* saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." ⁷² And again he denied it* with an oath, "I do not know the man!" ⁷³ And after a little while those who were standing there came up and* said to Peter, "You really are one of them also, because even your accent _⌊reveals who you are_⌋."* ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand about the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become,

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people,

⁶ And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.
And _⌊I was greatly astonished when I saw her_⌋*.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.

⁴⁴ How are you able to believe, if you* accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God?

¹ It is necessary to boast; it is not profitable, but I will proceed to visions and revelations of the Lord.

¹¹ I have become a fool! You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the preeminent apostles,* even if I am nothing.

³ Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves,

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?

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_⌋!"*

⁵ Then he strengthened himself and built up all the walls that were broken down, and raised towers upon them and another wall _⌊outside_⌋.* And he strengthened the Millo of the city of David and made much weaponry and small shields.

³ They replied to me, "The survivors in the province who have survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned in the fire."

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.

²⁴ Do not befriend an owner* of _⌊anger_⌋,* and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;