Proverbs 18 Cross References - WEB

¹ A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. ² A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. ³ When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace. ⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. ⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice. 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. ⁸ The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts. ⁹ One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction. ¹⁰ Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. ¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. ¹³ He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him. ¹⁴ A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? ¹⁵ The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge. ¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. ¹⁷ He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him. ¹⁸ The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart. ¹⁹ A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. ²⁰ A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. ²² Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. ²³ The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. ²⁴ A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

¹⁶ For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”

¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, ² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; ³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; ⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: ⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. ⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

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

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

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²¹ My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious;

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

⁸ Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul. ⁹ With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

¹⁷ I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry and rejoice. I sat alone because of your hand, for you have filled me with indignation.

³ and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”

¹¹ He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

⁴⁴ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

³⁵ Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

¹¹ He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

¹⁷ Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁹ These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

¹⁵ He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says; ¹⁶ he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:

¹ Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

¹⁶ Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

¹⁶ Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

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

³⁴ Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.

¹ Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

¹² So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

¹⁵ forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; ¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷ These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. ¹⁸ For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; ¹⁹ promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

³⁰ Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?

⁴ “Hear, our God; for we are despised. Turn back their reproach on their own head. Give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity.

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

²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

³ Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. ⁴ Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

² When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.

¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

¹⁶ When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.

³⁹ Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ⁴¹ Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

⁴ They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming.

¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

² I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

³⁴ You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

³⁸ He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

¹⁵ “‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.

¹⁶ I commanded your judges at that time, saying, “Hear cases between your brothers and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is living with him. ¹⁷ You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.”

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.

⁹ She wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. ¹⁰ Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death.” ¹¹ The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had instructed them in the letters which she had written and sent to them. ¹² They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 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. ¹⁴ Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned, and is dead.”

⁷ Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? ⁸ Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

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.

² “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.

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

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

²¹ To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

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

¹⁴ Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has fallen in the street, and uprightness can’t enter.

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.

¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.

¹⁶ A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

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

³ The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

¹⁶ A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

²⁷ A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. ²⁸ A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

¹⁹ A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

²⁹ Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

²⁴ Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger: ²⁵ lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.

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

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

³⁵ When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”

²⁴ The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. ²⁵ All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. ²⁸ Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” So the people were faint. ²⁹ Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” ³¹ They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; ³² and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. ³³ Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against Yahweh, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” ³⁴ Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. ³⁵ Saul built an altar to Yahweh. This was the first altar that he built to Yahweh. ³⁶ Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.” ³⁷ Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day. ³⁸ Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been today. ³⁹ For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. ⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” ⁴¹ Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped. ⁴² Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected. ⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.” ⁴⁴ Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” ⁴⁵ The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

⁸ Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.

⁹ As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

² you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.

⁸ The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

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

¹³ An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

³ He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

¹¹ If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. ¹⁴ A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

²³ He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.” ²⁵ She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” ²⁶ The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.

¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.” ¹⁶ But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” ¹⁹ The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” ²⁰ He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. ²¹ Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” ²² So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

¹⁶ “‘You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. “‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.

² Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

³ who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words, ⁴ to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.

¹⁸ There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.

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

²⁰ For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. ²¹ As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

²⁹ I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

⁴ He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

²⁰ Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat: ²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

³⁰ I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding: ³¹ Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. ³² Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, ³⁴ so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.

²⁶ “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.

¹³ Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. ¹⁴ When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

¹ He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. ² He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

¹¹ not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

¹² that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.

¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless.

¹¹ Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and strike me and the mothers with the children.

²⁸ He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” He blessed him there.

¹³ Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” 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.

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

⁵ Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name. ⁶ Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, ⁷ keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”

⁶ David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.

³ God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.

⁴⁵ The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. ⁴⁶ The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. ⁴⁷ Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,

⁵¹ He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.”

² Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

¹ By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

³ When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. ⁴ In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

³ For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. ⁴ I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.

² I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

² my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.

⁶ For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁴ Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

¹⁵ For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: Yahweh our righteousness.

¹⁹ Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

³¹ For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves concede.

²⁴ “If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ ²⁵ If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

⁶ Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— ⁷ none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. ⁸ For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, ⁹ that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

⁵ God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah. ⁶ The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying, ⁷ “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

¹⁰ Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them. ¹¹ God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.

¹⁵ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

⁴ Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

¹² For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

¹⁹ I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’ ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

⁶ Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” ⁷ It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. ⁸ Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.” ⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job. ¹⁰ Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before. ¹¹ Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that Yahweh had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold. ¹² So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. ¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ He called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren Happuch. ¹⁵ In all the land were no women found so beautiful as the daughters of Job. Their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 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.

³³ The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

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

²³ A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

⁵ Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!” ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. ⁷ He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” ⁸ I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” ⁹ He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand. You see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.” ¹¹ Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, houses without man, the land becomes utterly waste, ¹² and Yahweh has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many within the land. ¹³ If there is a tenth left in it, that also will in turn be consumed, as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stump remains when they are cut down; so the holy seed is its stock.”

⁴⁹ “‘“Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters. She also didn’t strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ They were arrogant, and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took them away when I saw it.

² “Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas;’ yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God—

⁹ Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.

²³ but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways. ²⁴ Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.

²⁰ While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;

²³ At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went out, and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.

¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

²¹ On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. ²² The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³ Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died.

⁵ Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

¹⁴ then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you,

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.”

²⁴ Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. ²⁵ When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” ²⁶ He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. ²⁷ He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. ²⁸ For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?” ²⁹ The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.” ³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”

¹⁰ The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. ¹¹ The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.” ¹² Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s local governors, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. ¹³ Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions. ¹⁴ A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day. ¹⁵ The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was perplexed.

⁵ She said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. ⁶ For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?” ⁷ Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. ⁸ Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man.” ⁹ Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the local governors, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language. ¹⁰ He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds. ¹¹ In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, ¹² on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. ¹³ A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ¹⁴ So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. ¹⁵ Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad. ¹⁶ The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. ¹⁷ In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

¹⁶ I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.

²⁵ It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

⁹ Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

¹⁴ Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.

⁵¹ “Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

²⁰ Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. ²¹ He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head. ⁸ He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes. ⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die.” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job didn’t sin with his lips.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

¹⁴ then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions: ¹⁵ so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

¹⁵ If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction. ¹⁶ If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me. ¹⁷ You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.

⁹ “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth? ¹⁰ Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me. Yahweh, be my helper.”

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.

² For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. ³ There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin. ⁴ For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?” ¹¹ Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

³ because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted. ³ I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.

¹⁴ Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me? ¹⁵ I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted. ¹⁶ Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

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

³ He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

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

²² A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

³³ He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. ³⁴ He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”

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.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” ³⁷ No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

¹² For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

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.

⁹ He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

⁶ Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials,

⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

⁹⁷ MEM How I love your law! It is my meditation all day. ⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me. ⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts. ¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word. ¹⁰² I have not turned away from your ordinances, for you have taught me. ¹⁰³ How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

⁵ Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

⁹ Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.

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

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

⁸ Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” ⁹ Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” ¹⁰ He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

¹⁵ From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

²⁰ You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”

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 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;

²⁷ Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.

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

⁶ Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

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

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.’”

²⁴ Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. ²⁵ When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” ²⁶ He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. ²⁷ He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.

¹³ He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.

¹² In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

² by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

²¹ He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. ²² Therefore they asked of Yahweh further, “Is there yet a man to come here?” Yahweh answered, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” ²³ They ran and got him there. When he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. ²⁴ Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom Yahweh has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” All the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” ²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. ²⁶ Saul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no tribute. But he held his peace.

⁴² Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.

⁶³ To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

³¹ These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

¹ The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

⁵ but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. ⁶ Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? ⁷ If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” ⁸ Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.

⁴¹ Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” ⁴² The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. ⁴³ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. ⁴⁴ Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away— ⁴⁵ until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”

⁶ The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” ⁷ Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies; ⁸ and he said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.” ⁹ Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’ ¹⁰ I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. ¹¹ Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and strike me and the mothers with the children.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a tunic of many colors. ⁴ His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him. ⁵ Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.

¹¹ His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.

¹⁸ They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer comes. ²⁰ Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.” ²¹ Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.” ²² Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. ²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him; ²⁴ and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it. ²⁵ They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. ²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him.

²² Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²⁸ Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”

²³ Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. 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.

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So 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.

¹⁹ a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

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

³⁹ Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

¹³ An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble. ¹⁴ A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.

² By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.

¹⁸ For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

²¹ To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

¹⁹ In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. ²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. ²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

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

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.

² By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence. ³ He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. ⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice. 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.

¹⁹ I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”

³⁵ The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. ³⁶ I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

¹⁶ to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

¹⁰ For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.

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. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.

¹⁸ For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;

¹⁸ Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

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.

²⁰ Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. ²¹ Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

²⁸ Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.

⁴ So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. ¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? ¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. ¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. ²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? ²¹ For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths. ²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. ²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

³⁵ For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

⁴ A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

¹⁴ House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

¹⁰ Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. ¹² She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar. ¹⁵ She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls. ¹⁶ She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night. ¹⁹ She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: ²⁹ “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.” ³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

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.

¹² Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.

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

⁷ Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

³⁰ “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.

² Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

⁷ She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.”

³⁶ It will happen that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, “Please put me into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”’”

¹⁰ Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.

¹⁷ Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”

¹ Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.” ² Elisha said to her, “What should I do for you? Tell me: what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.”

² For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says Yahweh: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

⁹ But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; ¹⁰ and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.

³ and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

⁴ Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you; ⁵ for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”

²⁶ When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you from the plunder of Yahweh’s enemies.” ²⁷ He sent it to those who were in Bethel, to those who were in Ramoth of the South, to those who were in Jattir, ²⁸ to those who were in Aroer, to those who were in Siphmoth, to those who were in Eshtemoa, ²⁹ to those who were in Racal, to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, ³⁰ to those who were in Hormah, to those who were in Borashan, to those who were in Athach, ³¹ to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.

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.

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

²⁷ When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans, lentils, roasted grain, ²⁹ honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.” ³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan. ³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. He had provided the king with sustenance while he stayed at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.” ³⁴ Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women any more? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.” ³⁸ The king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you request of me, that I will do for you.” ³⁹ All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

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.

³⁸ All these were men of war, who could order the battle array, and came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. ³⁹ They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had supplied provisions for them. ⁴⁰ Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

⁴⁹ Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

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. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.