Proverbs 17 Cross References - WEB

¹ Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. ² A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers. ³ The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts. ⁴ An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. ⁵ Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. ⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents. ⁷ Arrogant speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. ⁸ A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers. ⁹ He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. ¹⁰ A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool. ¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. ¹² Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. ¹³ Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. ¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. ¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh. ¹⁶ Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding? ¹⁷ A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸ A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. ¹⁹ He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. ²⁰ One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. ²¹ He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. ²² A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ²³ A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. ²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. ²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. ²⁶ Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. ²⁷ He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

¹⁶ Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

¹⁴ “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.

¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.

⁹ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.

⁴ But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” ⁵ The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?” ⁶ Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. ⁷ Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ⁸ If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.” ⁹ The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. ¹⁰ The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹ He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. ¹² He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ¹³ Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” ¹⁵ Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. ¹⁶ The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.” ¹⁸ She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰ She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. ²¹ The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. ²² As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, ²³ and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?” ²⁴ She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵ She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.” ²⁶ The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. ²⁷ He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.” ²⁸ The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words. ²⁹ Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. ³⁰ When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. ³¹ He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” ³² The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. ³³ Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.” ³⁴ He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. ³⁵ Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. ³⁶ Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. ³⁷ My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, ³⁸ but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’ ³⁹ I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’ ⁴⁰ He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house. ⁴¹ Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.’ ⁴² I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go— ⁴³ behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” ⁴⁴ then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master’s son.’ ⁴⁵ Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ ⁴⁶ She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink. ⁴⁷ I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. ⁴⁸ I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. ⁴⁹ Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.” ⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good. ⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Yahweh has spoken.” ⁵² When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. ⁵³ The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. ⁵⁴ They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.” ⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.” ⁵⁶ He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” ⁵⁷ They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.” ⁵⁸ They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” ⁵⁹ They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. ⁶⁰ They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them.” ⁶¹ Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. ⁶² Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. ⁶³ Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. ⁶⁴ Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. ⁶⁵ She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself. ⁶⁶ The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

⁵ He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

²⁹ He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁵ The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.

²⁶ He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

¹⁵ The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

¹³ Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

¹⁷ I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.

² Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind.

¹⁰ For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.

²¹ The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

¹⁰ Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

¹⁰ “I, Yahweh, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

⁹ I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, ‘It is my people;’ and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”

² “But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderers’ soap; ³ and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.

⁷ that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

²³ I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

⁷ Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, ⁸ that all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?” ⁹ Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. ¹⁰ He inquired of Yahweh for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” ¹¹ Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.

⁶ Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I refrain?” They said, “Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” ⁷ But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may inquire of him?” ⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.” ⁹ Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Quickly get Micaiah the son of Imlah.” ¹⁰ Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. ¹¹ Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and said, “Yahweh says, ‘With these you will push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’” ¹² All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.” ¹³ The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good.” ¹⁴ Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that I will speak.” ¹⁵ When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?” He answered him, “Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.” ¹⁶ The king said to him, “How many times do I have to adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in Yahweh’s name?” ¹⁷ He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’” ¹⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” ¹⁹ Micaiah said, “Therefore hear Yahweh’s word. I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. ²⁰ Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing; and another said another. ²¹ A spirit came out and stood before Yahweh, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ²² Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ He said, ‘You will entice him, and will also prevail. Go out and do so.’ ²³ Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.” ²⁴ Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did Yahweh’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?” ²⁵ Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.” ²⁶ The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son. ²⁷ Say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.”’” ²⁸ Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, all you people!”

⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.

¹⁰ who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.

³¹ The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority; and my people love to have it so. What will you do in the end of it?

³ For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, ⁴ and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. ⁵ They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

³ One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. ⁴ They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” ⁵ A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. ⁶ He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him

⁹ For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

¹⁷ Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown, ¹⁸ lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁶ As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.

¹¹ In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them. ¹² But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. ¹³ Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity.

¹⁶ For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.

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

¹⁷ But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?

²³ Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.

¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, 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 memorial to all generations.

¹² Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days, for David your father’s sake; but I will tear it out of your son’s hand.

⁴ Nevertheless for David’s sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem;

¹⁶ After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, to four generations. ¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.

³ Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. ⁴ As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. ⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

³ Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive plants around your table. ⁴ Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears Yahweh. ⁵ May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. ⁶ Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

³ The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,

¹² Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, ¹⁷ since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?

³ I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me. ⁴ A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil. ⁵ I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.

¹⁹ Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.

¹⁰ Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. ¹¹ Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. ¹² It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹² If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

⁵ You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

⁹ Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.” ¹⁰ Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me. ¹¹ Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.

¹¹ Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;

⁸ “You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.

¹⁹ You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

³⁵ So David received from her hand that which she had brought him. Then he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. Behold, I have listened to your voice, and have granted your request.”

¹ When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.” ³ The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” ⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

¹⁶ He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.

⁶ His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends. There is nothing hidden from its heat.

¹³ Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power.

⁴ Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.

²³ A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

²³ Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

¹² For I know how many are your offenses, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn away the needy in the courts.

³ Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

¹ By David. A contemplative psalm. Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

¹² Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

⁸ And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

⁵ Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.

⁸ Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you. ⁹ Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.

¹ A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

⁵ A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

²⁵ Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

¹⁹ A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

¹⁹ As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

¹² Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

⁵ When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came. ⁶ He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. ⁷ Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow! ⁸ Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!” ⁹ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

¹⁵ Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.

¹⁹ Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.”

¹ There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”

²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

²⁴ Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.” ²⁵ King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.

³¹ The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.

⁴⁶ So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

⁴¹ They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”

⁷ When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

²⁷ But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’”

⁸ Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

²⁴ He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths.

³ A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

¹⁵ As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

⁸ I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

¹⁷ He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

² The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. ³ The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken Uriah the Hittite’s wife to be your wife.’

¹ There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” ² The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the children of Israel had sworn to them; and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); ³ and David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And with what should I make atonement, that you may bless Yahweh’s inheritance?” ⁴ The Gibeonites said to him, “It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” He said, “I will do for you whatever you say.” ⁵ They said to the king, “The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, ⁶ let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.” The king said, “I will give them.” ⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. ⁸ But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. ⁹ He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest. ¹⁰ Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. ¹¹ David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. ¹² So David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; ¹³ and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son. They also gathered the bones of those who were hanged. ¹⁴ They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer for the land.

¹² They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

²⁰ They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.

¹² For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. ¹³ But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. ¹⁴ We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company. ¹⁵ Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

⁴ In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer. ⁵ They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. ⁶ Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand. ⁷ When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin. ⁸ Let his days be few. Let another take his office. ⁹ Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. ¹⁰ Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins. ¹¹ Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor. ¹² Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children. ¹³ Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

²⁰ Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them. ²¹ Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the sword in battle.

⁵ He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

²⁵ All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.

¹⁵ See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.

⁹ not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

⁸ Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. ⁹ Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

¹ The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you treated us this way, that you didn’t call us when you went to fight with Midian?” They rebuked him sharply. ² He said to them, “What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? ³ God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that.

¹ The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!” ² Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand. ³ When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me today, to fight against me?” ⁴ Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the middle of Ephraim, and in the middle of Manasseh.” ⁵ The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. Whenever a fugitive of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No;” ⁶ then they said to him, “Now say ‘Shibboleth;’” and he said “Sibboleth”; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it correctly, then they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.

¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!” ¹⁵ Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of David’s servants. ¹⁶ They each caught his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. ¹⁷ The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants.

⁴¹ Behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?”

¹⁴ and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” ¹⁵ So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about by God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. ¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So all Israel departed to their tents.

¹⁷ Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell down slain.

¹⁷ Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come! Let’s look one another in the face.” ¹⁸ Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. ¹⁹ You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?’” ²⁰ But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom. ²¹ So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. ²² Judah was defeated by Israel; so every man fled to his tent. ²³ Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. ²⁴ He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God’s house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

⁶ For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

¹⁰ Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

³² One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

¹⁹ He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

¹¹ The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

³ It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

⁸ Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

²¹ As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

²² An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

⁸ Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. ⁹ Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

³⁹ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. ² The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. ³ Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” ⁵ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;

² Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. ³ They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them. ⁵ But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” ⁶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. ⁷ When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” ¹² All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. ¹³ After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, ¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up ¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’ ¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. ¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.

¹¹ and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you;

²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

⁷ “Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.

¹³ The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones.

¹⁶ There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

¹ A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.

⁸ The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good. ²⁴ He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

²³ who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

²⁷ Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. ²⁸ Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord Yahweh says,’ when Yahweh has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.

⁷ You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth:

¹² Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;

¹⁸ But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— ¹⁹ one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. ²⁰ Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, ²¹ but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” ²² He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.” ²³ But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴ Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. ²⁵ He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.

⁵ But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

⁶ You have condemned and you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn’t resist you.

²⁹ Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

¹¹ But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. ¹² So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels. ¹³ Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? ²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

⁴ “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind. ⁵ You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!

⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, ⁵ “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed! ⁶ Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

¹⁵ The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

²⁵ The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. ²⁶ There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

²³ Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

¹ “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ² Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness. ³ Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

¹¹ Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

²⁶ saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. ²⁷ For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’

¹ Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

¹⁶ Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.

³ Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

² Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself.

¹⁷ Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁶ Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.

²⁶ I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

¹ David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.” ³ The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.” ⁴ The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” ⁵ Then king David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. ⁶ Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth.” He answered, “Behold, your servant!” ⁷ David said to him, “Don’t be afraid; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.” ⁸ He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?” ⁹ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son. ¹⁰ Till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, like one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

²⁴ A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

⁷ All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

¹¹ For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

¹ My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger, ² you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth. ³ Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor. ⁴ Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. ⁵ Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

¹⁵ He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

²⁶ Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts. ²⁷ If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

³⁶ Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing until the morning light. ³⁷ In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. ³⁸ About ten days later, Yahweh struck Nabal, so that he died.

¹ After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.

⁵ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

¹² Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

²⁷ Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

²² An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin. ²³ A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

¹³ “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his rooms by injustice; who uses his neighbor’s service without wages, and doesn’t give him his hire; ¹⁴ who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house and spacious rooms,’ and cuts out windows for himself; with a cedar ceiling, and painted with red. ¹⁵ “Should you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Didn’t your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.

²⁰ The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth; ²¹ whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:

²⁰ For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

²⁰ for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

²⁶ With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

³² For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.

¹² A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth, ¹³ who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers, ¹⁴ in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord. ¹⁵ Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

¹³ The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

¹⁰ One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

¹⁴ Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

³¹ The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

⁶ A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. ⁷ For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; ⁸ but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

³⁴ When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

³² You will see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which I will give Israel. There shall not be an old man in your house forever. ³³ The man of yours whom I don’t cut off from my altar will consume your eyes and grieve your heart. All the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age. ³⁴ This will be the sign to you that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they will both die. ³⁵ I will raise up a faithful priest for myself who will do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house. He will walk before my anointed forever.

³ His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

³³ The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

¹ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

²⁰ A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

¹³ A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. ¹⁶ Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.

³ When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. ⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.

³ For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch. ⁴ My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread. ⁵ By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.

²⁵ Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

¹⁴ A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

⁷ Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. ⁸ Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. ⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

² through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: ⁵ and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

⁷ so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

³ Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

⁸ A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

¹² In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh.

¹¹ Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on Yahweh, and say, “Isn’t Yahweh among us? No disaster will come on us.”

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. ¹¹ They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

¹⁴ The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

⁵ Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

¹⁴ The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

¹ Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

¹⁷ If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

¹ After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. ² Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. ³ But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. ⁴ He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” ⁵ Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.’” ⁶ So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” ⁷ Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” ⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. ⁹ She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him. ¹⁰ Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. ¹¹ When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!” ¹² She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly. ¹³ As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” ¹⁴ However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. ¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” ¹⁶ She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her. ¹⁷ Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.” ¹⁸ She had a garment of various colors on her; for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. ¹⁹ Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. ²⁰ Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. ²¹ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. ²² Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

¹⁸ I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. ¹⁹ Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

²⁵ May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²³ When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” ²⁴ Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is already gone? ²⁵ You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”

³⁹ I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

⁷ Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow! ⁸ Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!”

⁷ Now therefore arise, go out, and speak to comfort your servants; for I swear by Yahweh, if you don’t go out, not a man will stay with you this night. That would be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now.”

¹⁸ Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’? ¹⁹ He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

¹ Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

²² When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”

¹⁹ In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

¹⁹ So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

² For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

⁵ Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

³ For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

³ Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

¹⁴ A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?