Proverbs 25 Cross References - WEB

¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. ² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. ³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. ⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner; ⁵ Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness. ⁶ Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; ⁷ for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen. ⁸ Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you? ⁹ Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another, ¹⁰ lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart. 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. ¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters. ¹⁴ As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively. ¹⁵ By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone. ¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it. ¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you. ¹⁸ A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. ¹⁹ Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot. ²⁰ As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you. ²³ The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face. ²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman. ²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶ Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor. ²⁸ Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.

³² He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs numbered one thousand five.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

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

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

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

²² Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

² He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.

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

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

²⁹ The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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?” ¹⁰ This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice; ¹² behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you. ¹³ I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” ¹⁵ Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. ¹⁶ Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him. ¹⁷ The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house. ¹⁸ The third day after I delivered, this woman delivered also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house. ¹⁹ This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it. ²⁰ She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. ²¹ When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.” ²² The other woman said, “No; but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” The first one said, “No; but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” They argued like this before the king. ²³ Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead;’ and the other says, ‘No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” ²⁴ The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. ²⁵ The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.” ²⁶ Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.” ²⁷ Then the king answered, “Give her the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.” ²⁸ All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.

²⁹ God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations all around. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs numbered one thousand five. ³³ He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he also spoke of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. ³⁴ People of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, sent by all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.

¹⁹ I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.

¹⁷ Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

⁷ “Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty? ⁸ They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?

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

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. ⁵ Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? ⁶ What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷ when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ⁸ “Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb, ⁹ when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness, ¹⁰ marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors, ¹¹ and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’? ¹² “Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place, ¹³ that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it? ¹⁴ It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment. ¹⁵ From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken. ¹⁶ “Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep? ¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? ¹⁸ Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all. ¹⁹ “What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place, ²⁰ that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house? ²¹ Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great! ²² Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail, ²³ which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? ²⁴ By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth? ²⁵ Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunder storm, ²⁶ to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man, ²⁷ to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow? ²⁸ Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew? ²⁹ Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the gray frost of the sky? ³⁰ The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.

⁴ Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again. ⁵ “Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey, ⁶ whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place? ⁷ He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver. ⁸ The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing. ⁹ “Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough? ¹⁰ Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you? ¹¹ Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor? ¹² Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor? ¹³ “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the feathers and plumage of love? ¹⁴ For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust, ¹⁵ and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them. ¹⁶ She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear, ¹⁷ because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding. ¹⁸ When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider. ¹⁹ “Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane? ²⁰ Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome. ²¹ He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men. ²² He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword. ²³ The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. ²⁴ He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet. ²⁵ As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. ²⁶ “Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south? ²⁷ Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high? ²⁸ On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, on the point of the cliff, and the stronghold. ²⁹ From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off. ³⁰ His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”

² “Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

³ You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.

³³ Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

²⁹ God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.

¹¹ “Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”

⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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

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—

³ The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.

²⁵ I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin. ²⁶ I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’ ²⁷ Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.

¹⁸ “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver.

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.

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. ²¹ If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.

³³ So their blood will return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from Yahweh.”

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.

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.

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.

⁷ He who practices deceit won’t dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood won’t be established before my eyes. ⁸ Morning by morning, I will destroy all the wicked of the land, to cut off all the workers of iniquity from Yahweh’s city.

¹² It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

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

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.

¹⁴ The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

⁵ A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.

¹¹ Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

²⁰ As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?” ²¹ Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?” ²² Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.

¹⁷ Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;

¹⁸ David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” ¹⁹ But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife. ²⁰ Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. ²¹ Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, “You shall today be my son-in-law a second time.” ²² Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’” ²³ Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and little known?”

⁸ Now therefore tell my servant David this, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. ¹⁰ I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first, ¹¹ and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house. ¹² When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; ¹⁵ but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’” ¹⁷ Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.

¹ A Song of Ascents. By David. Yahweh, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.

¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

² Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

⁶ Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” ⁷ But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. ⁸ Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh. ⁹ Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

¹² Amaziah also said to Amos, “You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: ¹³ but don’t prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house!” ¹⁴ Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; ¹⁵ and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

⁷ He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, ⁹ and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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.”

¹ After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”

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.

²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one another in the face.” ⁹ Jehoash the 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 wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?’” ¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash 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. ¹² Judah was defeated by Israel; and each man fled to his tent.

¹² There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

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

⁶ A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

³³ For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood; so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”

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?

²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

³¹ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace.

¹³ One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

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

⁵ Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea. ⁷ “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! ⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. ⁹ If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. ¹⁰ See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. ¹¹ For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. ¹² “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? ¹³ If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. ¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. ¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. ¹⁶ But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.

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

²³ Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!

²⁶ An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁴ The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He awakens morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

³¹ that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.” ³² David said to Abigail, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me! ³³ Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, who have kept me today from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand. ³⁴ For indeed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”

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.

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 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: ⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

⁸ Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

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

³¹ The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. ³² He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.

⁵ Better is open rebuke than hidden love. ⁶ The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

⁶ One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

²⁵ But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need, ²⁶ since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow. ²⁸ I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor, ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

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.’”

⁶ Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

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

¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. ¹⁶ I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.

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.

¹² These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³ wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.

¹⁶ These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

⁴ He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now. ⁵ I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’” 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. ¹² You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’” ¹³ He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him a present for Esau, his brother: ¹⁴ two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. ¹⁶ He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.” ¹⁷ He commanded the foremost, saying, “When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, ‘Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?’ ¹⁸ Then you shall say, ‘They are your servant, Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.’” ¹⁹ He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find 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.” ²¹ So the present passed over before him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

¹⁴ But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Greet our master; and he insulted them.

²⁴ She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant. ²⁵ Please don’t let my lord pay attention to this worthless fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men, whom you sent. ²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. ²⁷ Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. ²⁸ Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights Yahweh’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days. ²⁹ Though men may rise up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies, as from the hollow of a sling. ³⁰ It will come to pass, when Yahweh has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, ³¹ that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.” ³² David said to Abigail, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me! ³³ Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, who have kept me today from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand. ³⁴ For indeed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.” 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.” 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. ³⁹ When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed is Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. Yahweh has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to himself as wife. ⁴⁰ When David’s servants had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.” ⁴¹ She arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, your servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” ⁴² Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. ⁴³ David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives. ⁴⁴ Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

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

¹⁴ The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

⁴ If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

⁸ After a while he returned to take her, and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. ⁹ He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.

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.

⁸ The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.

¹³ My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste; ¹⁴ so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.

²² It shall happen, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter; for everyone will eat butter and honey that is left within the land.

³⁴ “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

¹⁸ Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

² and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” ³ He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

¹⁸ He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to Yahweh’s house; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. ¹⁹ Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” ²⁰ The old man said, “Peace be to you! Just let me supply all your needs, but don’t sleep in the street.” ²¹ So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

²⁴ whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

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

²¹ His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

⁴ My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

³ What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue? ⁴ Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

³ They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.

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

²⁸ Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

³ “They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me,” says Yahweh.

⁸ Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.

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.

²⁰ Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and gave him trouble, but didn’t strengthen him. ²¹ For Ahaz took away a portion out of Yahweh’s house, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria; but it didn’t help him.

¹⁴ “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty. ¹⁵ My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away; ¹⁶ Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself. ¹⁷ In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. ¹⁸ The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish. ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them. ²⁰ They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

¹ “Woe to the rebellious children”, says Yahweh, “who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, ² who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

⁶ Behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

⁶ “‘“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. ⁷ When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke, and paralyzed all of their thighs.”

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.

¹² If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. ¹³ You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Yahweh your God. ¹⁴ You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates. ¹⁵ In his day you shall give him his wages, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor and sets his heart on it; lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you. ¹⁶ The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin. ¹⁷ You shall not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, nor take a widow’s clothing in pledge;

⁷ They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. ⁸ They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for lack of a shelter. ⁹ There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor, ¹⁰ So that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.

³ For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” ⁴ How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?

²⁶ As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

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

⁷ Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

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

¹⁵ And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

¹⁵ and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

⁴ “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. ⁵ If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him. You shall surely help him with it.

²² He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”

¹⁵ The men who have been mentioned by name rose up and took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them, gave them sandals, and gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

¹⁷ Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, ³⁴ came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ ³⁶ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” ²¹ Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

¹² It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today.”

¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.

¹⁸ Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

²² Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

³ he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

⁵ I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.

²⁰ For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

³⁰ backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

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,

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

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.

¹⁵ A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike: ¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

¹⁶ She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. ¹⁷ God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. ¹⁸ Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” ¹⁹ God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.

² Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” ³ The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

⁶ Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

¹⁸ He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” ¹⁹ But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived. Therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day.

¹⁵ David longed, and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

¹ For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

¹ A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

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.

¹⁴ Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?

¹⁵ Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

¹⁰ The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. ¹¹ For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

³⁷ Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

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!”

¹⁵ The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

⁶ He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

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.

¹⁴ Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your body guard, and honored in your house? ¹⁵ Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me! Don’t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.” ¹⁶ The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house.” ¹⁷ The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh. ¹⁸ The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!” Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.

²¹ They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house. ²² Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”

² ‘Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tell him, “You were likened to a young lion of the nations; yet you are as a monster in the seas. You broke out with your rivers, and troubled the waters with your feet, and fouled their rivers.”

¹⁸ Does it seem a small thing to you to have fed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? And to have drunk of the clear waters, but must you foul the residue with your feet? ¹⁹ As for my sheep, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.’

³⁴ Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. ³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

⁵² Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,

⁶ I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

¹ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

¹¹ I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

³ doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

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?

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.”

⁵ He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

³ They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

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

²⁴ Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger: