Proverbs 10 Cross References - ISV

¹ Solomon’s SayingsThe proverbs of Solomon. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grieves his mother. ² Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth, but righteousness delivers from death. ³ The LORD won’t cause the righteous to hunger, but he will reject what the wicked crave. ⁴ Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands lead to wealth. ⁵ Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
⁶ The Righteous and Wicked ComparedBlessings come upon the head of the righteous, but the words of the wicked conceal violence. ⁷ The reputation of the righteous leads to blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. ⁸ The wise person accepts commands, but the chattering fool will be brought down. ⁹ Whoever walks in integrity lives prudently, but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed. ¹⁰ Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers, and the mocking fool will be brought down. ¹¹ What the righteous say is a flowing fountain, but what the wicked say conceals violence. ¹² Hatred awakens contention, but love covers all transgressions. ¹³ Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment. ¹⁴ Those who are wise store up knowledge, but when the fool speaks, destruction is near. ¹⁵ The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth, but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty. ¹⁶ Honorable wages lead to life; the salaries of the wicked, to retribution. ¹⁷ Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life, but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray. ¹⁸ Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. ¹⁹ Transgression is at work where people talk too much, but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent. ²⁰ What the righteous person says is like precious silver; the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things. ²¹ What the righteous person says nourishes many, but fools die because they lack discerning hearts. ²² The blessing of the LORD establishes wealth, and difficulty does not accompany it. ²³ Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy, so is wisdom to the discerning man. ²⁴ What the wicked fears will come about, but the longing of the righteous will be granted. ²⁵ When the storm ends, the wicked vanish, but the righteous person is forever firm. ²⁶ As vinegar is to the mouth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person to those who send him. ²⁷ Fearing the LORD prolongs life, but the wicked will not live long. ²⁸ What the righteous hope for brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked dies. ²⁹ To the upright, the way of the LORD is a place of safety, but it’s a place of ruin to those who practice evil. ³⁰ The righteous will never be overthrown, but the wicked will never inhabit the land. ³¹ The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out. ³² Righteous lips know what is prudent, but the words of the wicked are perverse.

³² Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.

¹ Introduction and PurposeThe proverbs of David’s son Solomon, king of Israel.

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

²¹ The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

¹³ A father’s ruin is a foolish son, and a wife’s quarreling is like dripping water that never stops.

¹⁵ On Listening to Your ParentsMy son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice. ¹⁶ My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.

²⁴ The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice; whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him. ²⁵ Let your father and mother rejoice; make the one who gave birth to you happy.

¹ More Proverbs from SolomonHere are some more proverbs by Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

³ The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.

¹⁵ The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom, but an undisciplined child brings shame to his mother.

¹⁹ And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

⁹ ConclusionsMoreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs.

⁶ those who put confidence in their wealth and boast about their great riches? ⁷ No man can redeem the life of another, nor can he give to God a sufficient payment for him— ⁸ for it would cost too much to redeem his life, and the payments would go on forever— ⁹ that he should go on living and not see corruption. ¹⁰ Indeed, he will see wise people die; the stupid and the senseless will meet their doom and leave their wealth to others.

⁴ Wealth won’t help in the time of judgment, but righteousness will deliver from death.

²⁸ In the pathway to righteousness there is life, and in that lifestyle there is no death.

⁶ A fortune gained by deceit is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

² to deprive the needy of justice and to rob the poor of my people of their rights, so that widows may become their spoil and so that they may plunder orphans! ³ What will you do on the day of Judgment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you run for help, and where will you leave your wealth,

¹⁹ They’ll fling their silver into the streets, and their gold will be cast away as impure. Their silver and gold won’t be able to deliver them during the time of the LORD’s wrath. They won’t be able to satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs, because their iniquity has tripped them up.”

²⁷ Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do what’s right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue.”

¹⁸ Neither their silver nor their gold will deliver them in the Day of the LORD’s wrath; but the entire land will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will bring the inhabitants of the land to a sudden end.”

¹⁵ Then he told them, “Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life doesn’t consist of the amount of possessions he has.”
¹⁶ Then he told them a parable. He said, “The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. ¹⁷ So he began to think to himself, ‘What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my grain and goods in them. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ ²⁰ But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’ ²¹ That’s how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God.”

²² “One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In the afterlife, where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side.

⁵ But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are reserving wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

²¹ so that, just as sin ruled by bringing death, so also grace might rule by bringing justification that results in eternal life through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness of the Messiah, the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith.

¹ Advice for Rich PeopleNow listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you. ² Your riches are rotten, your clothes have been eaten by moths, ³ your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasures in these last days.

²⁰ He will deliver you from death by famine; in war from the power of the sword.

⁵ The wicked triumph only briefly; the joy of the godless is momentary. ⁶ Though he grow as tall as the sky, or though his head touches the clouds, ⁷ he’ll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ ⁸ He’ll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision.”

²⁰ “Since his appetite won’t quit; he won’t let anything escape his lust. ²¹ Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won’t last. ²² Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers— everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.

²⁸ A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry.

¹⁴ But you do see! You take note of trouble and grief in order to take the matter into your own hand. The helpless one commits himself to you; you have been the orphan’s helper.

¹⁹ to deliver them from death; to keep them alive in times of famine.

⁹ Fear the LORD, you holy ones of his; for those who fear him lack nothing. ¹⁰ Young lions lack and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD will never lack any good thing.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness.

¹⁹ They will not experience shame in times of trouble; in times of famine they will have plenty.

²⁵ I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.

¹⁰ The wicked person sees this and flies into a rage; his teeth gnash and wear away. The desire of the wicked will amount to nothing.

³² The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.

¹⁶ this is the one who will live on the heights; his refuge will be a mountain fortress. His food will be supplied, and his water will be guaranteed.

⁶ Judgment on the Plunderer of Nations“Will not all of these ridicule him with mocking scorn? They will say, ‘Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn’t his. How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?’ ⁷ Won’t your creditors revolt unexpectedly? Won’t those who make you tremble wake up? As a result, you’ll become their prey! ⁸ Because you plundered many nations, all of their remnants will plunder you. Human blood has been shed, and violence has been done to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it.”

³⁰ Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won’t he clothe you much better—you who have little faith?
³¹ “So don’t ever worry by saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ ³² because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! ³³ But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.

²² Stop Worrying
Then Jesus told his disciples, “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear, ²³ because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

³¹ Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well.

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” ⁶ Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”

⁶ The Folly of LazinessGo to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise. ⁷ It has no commander, officer, or ruler, ⁸ but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest. ⁹ How long will you lie down, lazy man? When will you get up from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ¹¹ and your poverty will come on you like a bandit and your desperation like an armed man.

²⁴ Those who give freely gain even more; others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.

²⁴ The diligent will take control, but the lazy will be put to forced labor.

⁴ The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing, but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.

¹⁵ Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

²⁴ The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn’t bother to bring it back to his mouth.

⁴ A lazy person doesn’t plow in the proper season; he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.

¹³ Do not love sleep or you’ll become poor, keep your eyes open and you’ll have plenty of food.

⁵ Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity, but all who are hasty will surely become poor.

³⁰ I went by the field belonging to a lazy man, by a vineyard belonging to a senseless person. ³¹ There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed. ³² As I observed, I thought about it; I watched, and learned a lesson: ³³ “A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!” ³⁴ Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit.

¹⁸ Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness.

²⁷ Do not work for food that perishes but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him.”

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn’t wasted.

¹¹ But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. ¹² Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

⁵ For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, ⁶ your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, ⁷ your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. ⁹ For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.
¹⁰ So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail.

⁶ The Folly of LazinessGo to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise.

⁸ but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest.

⁴ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but a wife who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.

² A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

²⁶ Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

²⁵ Ants aren’t a strong species, yet they prepare their food in the summer.

⁶ Steps to Reconciliation“Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous person his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, So he’ll have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he’ll pardon abundantly.

² Moreover, all these blessings will come upon you in abundance, if you obey the LORD your God:

⁸ When the king returned to the banquet hall from the palace garden, Haman was prostrate on the couch where Esther was. The king asked, “Will this man even assault the queen with me in the house?” The king had no sooner spoken than they covered Haman’s face.

¹³ Those who were about to die blessed me, and I made widows sing for joy.

⁴² The upright see it and rejoice, but the mouth of an evil person is shut.

¹¹ What the righteous say is a flowing fountain, but what the wicked say conceals violence.

²⁶ People will curse whoever withholds grain, but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

²⁵ But as for people who rebuke the wicked; a good blessing will fall upon them.

²⁰ The faithful man will prosper with blessings, but whoever is in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the Law says applies to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often took care of me and was not ashamed that I was a prisoner. ¹⁷ Instead, when he arrived in Rome he searched diligently for me and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he finds mercy on the day he comes again. You know very well how much he assisted me in Ephesus.

³⁶ I’ll give one tribe to his son, so my servant David will always have a light shining in my presence in Jerusalem, the city that I chose for myself and where I have placed my name.

³⁴ ‘I will defend this city and preserve it for my own reasons, and because of my servant David.’”

¹⁶ He was buried in the City of David among the graves of the kings, because he had accomplished many good things in Israel on behalf of God and his Temple.

¹⁷ No one remembers him anywhere in the land; no one names streets in his honor.

²³ but it will clap its hands over him, hissing at him as it lunges toward him.”

⁵ You rebuked the nations, you destroyed the wicked, you wiped out their name forever and ever. ⁶ The enemy has perished, reduced to ruins forever. You uprooted their cities, the very memory of them vanished.

¹³ May his descendants be eliminated, and their memory be erased from the next generation.

¹⁵ May what they have done be continually in the LORD’s presence; and may their memory be excised from the earth.

⁶ He will never be shaken; the one who is just will always be remembered.

¹⁰ So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.

¹³ LORD, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn aside from you will be written in the dust, because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.

⁹ I tell all of you with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

⁴⁸ because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed,

³⁴ Give me understanding and I will observe your instruction. I will keep it with all of my heart.

⁵ Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance

⁹ Counsel a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will add to his learning.

¹⁰ Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers, and the mocking fool will be brought down.

¹ Wisdom and Wickedness Contrasted The person who loves correction loves knowledge, but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.

¹³ An evil man’s sinful speech ensnares him, but the righteous person escapes from trouble.

³ Anyone who guards his words protects his life; anyone who talks too much is ruined.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live, but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

²³ In hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty.

⁶ A fool’s words bring strife, and his mouth invites fighting. ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his unraveling, and his lips entrap himself.

¹² The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him.

²⁴ The Two Foundations
“Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.

¹³ Live WiselyWho among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely.

⁴ Even when I walk through a valley of deep darkness, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

²¹ Integrity and justice will preserve me, because I wait on you.

¹¹ But as for me, I walk in my integrity. Redeem me and be gracious to me! ¹² My feet stand on level ground; among the worshiping congregations I will bless the LORD.

¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD grants grace and favor; the LORD will not withhold any good thing from those who walk blamelessly.

²³ Then you will travel safely on your way, and your foot will not stumble.

²⁰ The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

¹⁸ Whoever lives blamelessly will be delivered, but whoever is perverted will fall without warning.

¹⁵ The one who walks righteously and has spoken sincere words, who rejects gain from extortion and waves his hand, rejecting bribes, who blocks his ears from hearing plots of murder and shuts his eyes against seeing evil— ¹⁶ this is the one who will live on the heights; his refuge will be a mountain fortress. His food will be supplied, and his water will be guaranteed.

²⁶ Fear God
“So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known.

¹ A Warning against HypocrisyMeanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. “Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees! ² There is nothing covered up that won’t be exposed and nothing secret that won’t be made known.

⁵ Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God.

¹³ The other Jews also joined him in this hypocritical behavior, to the extent that even Barnabas was caught up in their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “Though you are a Jew, you have been living like a gentile and not like a Jew. So how can you insist that the gentiles must live like Jews?”

²⁵ In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.

¹² Why have your emotions carried you away? And why do your eyes flash

¹⁹ Do not let my deceitful enemies gloat over me, nor let those who hate me without justification mock me with their eyes.

¹³ winking with his eyes, making signs with his feet, pointing with his fingers,

⁸ The wise person accepts commands, but the chattering fool will be brought down.

²¹ The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces.

¹⁰ For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous one produces wisdom; his tongue speaks justice. ³¹ The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps will not slip.

⁶ The Righteous and Wicked ComparedBlessings come upon the head of the righteous, but the words of the wicked conceal violence.

²⁰ What the righteous person says is like precious silver; the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things. ²¹ What the righteous person says nourishes many, but fools die because they lack discerning hearts.

³² Righteous lips know what is prudent, but the words of the wicked are perverse.

¹⁴ What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.

⁷ What the wise have to say disseminates knowledge, but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

²² Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life, but foolishness brings punishment to fools. ²³ A wise person’s thoughts control his words, and his speech promotes instruction. ²⁴ Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body.

⁴ The words a man says are as deep waters— a fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

¹⁵ There is an abundance of gold and precious stones, but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹² The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him. ¹³ He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with evil madness. ¹⁴ The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it?

³⁴ You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. ³⁵ A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house. ³⁶ I tell you, on Judgment Day people will give an account for every thoughtless word they have uttered, ³⁷ because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

²⁹ Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it can boast of great achievements. A huge forest can be set on fire by a little flame. ⁶ The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ For all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be or have been tamed by humans, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.

¹⁸ The quickly angered man stirs up contention, but anyone who controls his temper calms a dispute.

²⁷ A worthless person concocts evil gossip— his lips are like a burning fire.

⁹ Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends.

²⁵ An arrogant man stirs up dissension, but anyone who trusts in the LORD prospers.

²² An angry man stirs up arguments, and a hot-tempered man causes many transgressions.

⁴ Love is always patient; love is always kind; love is never envious or arrogant with pride. Nor is she conceited, ⁵ and she is never rude; she never thinks just of herself or ever gets annoyed. She never is resentful; ⁶ is never glad with sin; she’s always glad to side with truth, and pleased that truth will win. ⁷ She bears up under everything; believes the best in all; there is no limit to her hope, and never will she fall.

¹ Stop Fighting with Each OtherWhere do those fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your selfish desires that are at war in your bodies, don’t they?

²⁰ you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his wrong path will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

⁸ Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

¹² The LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt to bring the locusts, and they’ll come up over the land of Egypt and eat all the vegetation of the land, everything that the hail left.”

⁹ Don’t be like a horse or mule, without understanding. They are held in check by a bit and bridle in their mouths; otherwise they will not remain near you.

³² Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind; by doing so he corrupts his own soul.

²² All of a sudden he follows her like an ox fit for slaughter or like a fool fit for a trap

¹⁰ Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers, and the mocking fool will be brought down. ¹¹ What the righteous say is a flowing fountain, but what the wicked say conceals violence.

²¹ What the righteous person says nourishes many, but fools die because they lack discerning hearts.

³¹ The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.

²³ An appropriate answer brings joy to a person, and a well-timed word is a good thing.

¹⁰ A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool.

²⁹ Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

³ A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.

²² Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle as someone might crush grain, his stupidity still won’t leave him.

⁴ The Servant’s Obedience“The Lord GOD has given me a learned tongue, so that I may know how to sustain the weary with words. And morning after morning he wakens, and he wakens my ear to listen like those who are being taught.

²² All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?”

¹ How Fools Talk Whoever isolates himself pursues selfish ends; he resists all sound advice.

⁷ A fool’s mouth is his unraveling, and his lips entrap himself.

¹⁵ The mind of a discerning person gains knowledge, while the ears of wise people seek out knowledge.

⁸ Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.

²³ Whoever watches his mouth and tongue keeps himself from trouble.

³⁵ A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house.

⁴⁴ The Parable about a Hidden Treasure“The kingdom from heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man found and hid. In his excitement he went and sold everything he had and bought that field.”

⁵² Then he told them, “That is why every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom from heaven is like the master of a household who brings both new and old things out of his treasure chest.”

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus the Messiah.
⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us.

²⁴ No Trust in Wealth and Heavenly Bodies“If I’ve put my confidence in gold, if I’ve told gold, ‘You’re my security,’ ²⁵ if I’ve found joy in great wealth that I own, if I’ve earned a lot with my own hands,

⁶ those who put confidence in their wealth and boast about their great riches?

⁷ “Look, here is a young man who refused to make God his strength; instead, he trusted in his great wealth and made his wickedness his strength.

²⁰ The poor person is shunned by his neighbor, but many are the friends of the wealthy.

¹¹ The wealth of a rich person is his fortified city; in his own imagination, it is like a high wall.

⁷ All the relatives of a poor person shun him— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren’t around.

²² Don’t rob the poor person because he is poor, and don’t crush the helpless in court, ²³ for the LORD will plead their case and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.

¹² Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it’s better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

²³ True Wisdom and the Coming JudgmentThis is what the LORD says: “The wise man is not to boast in his wisdom; the strong man is not to boast in his strength; and the rich man is not to boast in his riches.

¹ God’s Warning to His People “Woe to those who are crafting iniquity, planning evil well into the night! When morning’s light comes, they carry out their plans because they have the power to do so. ² They covet fields and seize them; they covet houses, and grab them, too. They harass the valiant man, along with his household, an individual and his estate.

²⁴ The disciples were startled by these words, but Jesus told them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their wealth to get into the kingdom of God!

¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

¹⁷ Advice for the WealthyTell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

¹⁸ Evil people earn deceptive wages, but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded. ¹⁹ Genuine righteousness leads to life, but whoever pursues evil will die.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who wins people is wise.

¹⁰ Encouragement to the Righteous“Tell the righteous that things will go well, because they will enjoy the fruit of their actions.”
¹¹ Warning to the Wicked“How terrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster is headed their way, because what they did with their hand will be repaid to them.

¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.

³³ A Tree is Known by Its Fruit
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart.

¹⁹ It is out of the heart that evil thoughts come, as well as murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, false testimony, and slander.

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with the Messiah Jesus our Lord.

⁷ Stop being deceived; God is not to be ridiculed. A person harvests whatever he plants: ⁸ The person who sows through human means will harvest decay from human means, but the person who sows in the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest—if we do not give up.

¹⁷ and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. ¹⁸ They have abandoned the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and so they destroy the faith of others.

¹³ But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

¹⁰ For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them.

¹⁶ But even while the prophet was speaking, the king asked him, “Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?”
So the prophet stopped speaking, but he also said, “I know God has determined to destroy you, because you’ve done all this and ignored my counsel.”

²⁵ because you neglected all my advice and did not want my correction, ²⁶ I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you fear comes,

³⁰ they did not want my advice, and they rejected all my correction.

¹ The Blessings of Trusting God My son, don’t forget my instruction, and keep my commandments carefully in mind. ² For they will add length to your days, years to your life, and abundant peace to you.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life for those who embrace her, and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

⁴ he taught me and told me, “Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and live!

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!

¹² and you will say, “How I hated instruction, and my heart rejected correction!

²³ Because the command is a lamp and the Law a light, rebukes that discipline are a way of life—

¹⁰ Severe punishment awaits anyone who wanders off the path— anyone who despises reproof will die.

¹⁷ Sayings of the WisePay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my teaching, ¹⁸ for it is pleasant when you treasure them within you and have them ready on your lips. ¹⁹ As a result, your trust will be in the LORD, that’s why I’m teaching you today, even you.

¹ Advice on Life and Justice After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning.

⁶ Never let your mouth cause you to sin and don’t proclaim in the presence of the angel, “My promise was a mistake,” for why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve undertaken?

²⁴ The Two Foundations
“Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock.
²⁶ “Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the floods came, the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed—and its collapse was total.”

²⁸ But he said, “Instead, how blessed are those who hear God’s word and obey it!”

¹ We Must Not Neglect Our SalvationFor this reason we must pay closer attention to the things we have heard, or we may drift away,

²⁵ See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!

⁵ For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, ⁶ your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, ⁷ your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. ⁹ For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.
¹⁰ So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail. ¹¹ For in this way you will be generously granted entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah.

²¹ Saul told himself, “I’ll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him.” So Saul told David, “For a second time you can be my son-in-law today.”
²² Saul commanded his officials, “Speak with David privately and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his officials love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’”

²⁹ Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David’s enemy from that time on.

²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab brought him aside within the gateway to talk to him alone and then stabbed him in the abdomen. So he died for shedding the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

⁸ Then David told Uriah, “Go on down to your house and relax a while.” So Uriah left the king’s palace, and the king sent a gift along after him. ⁹ But Uriah spent the night sleeping in the alcove of the king’s palace in the company of all his master’s staff members. He refused to go down to his own home.
¹⁰ When David was told that Uriah hadn’t gone home the previous night, he quizzed him, “You just arrived from a long journey, so why didn’t you go down to your own house?”
¹¹ Uriah replied, “The ark, along with Israel and Judah, are encamped in tents, while my commanding officer Joab and my master’s staff members are camping out in the open fields. Should I go home, eat, drink, and have sex with my wife? Not on your life! I won’t do something like this, will I?”
¹² Then David invited Uriah, “Stay here today, and tomorrow I’ll send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem all that day and the next. ¹³ Then at David’s invitation, he and Uriah dined and drank wine together, and David got him drunk. Later that evening, Uriah went out to lie on a couch in the company of his lord’s servants, and he did not go down to his house.
¹⁴ David Orders Uriah KilledThe next morning, David sent a message to Joab that Uriah took with him in his hand. ¹⁵ In the message, he wrote: “Assign Uriah to the most difficult fighting at the battle front, and then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and killed.”

²³ Absalom’s Men Kill AmnonTwo full years later, Absalom took some men to Baal-hazor near Ephraim to shear his sheep. He also invited all of the king’s sons to come. ²⁴ Absalom had gone to the king to ask him, “I’ve brought some men to shear the sheep. Won’t you please come and join me, along with your senior staff?”
²⁵ But King David declined, saying to Absalom, “No, my son, we won’t all go, since that would be too much trouble for you.” Although Absalom begged David, he would not go, even though he did give his blessing.
²⁶ So Absalom responded, “If you aren’t coming, please allow my brother Amnon to accompany us.”
The king asked, “Why should he go with you?”
²⁷ But Absalom kept begging David until he sent Amnon and all of David’s sons to accompany Absalom.
²⁸ Then Absalom instructed his young men, “Please keep watching Amnon until he’s drunk. Then I’ll tell you, ‘Attack Amnon!’ As soon as I do, kill him and don’t be afraid! You have your orders, so be strong and brave!” ²⁹ So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as they had been ordered, but the rest of David’s sons jumped up, mounted their mules, and escaped.

⁹ Joab asked Amasa, “Is everything going well with you, my brother?” As Joab took Amasa by his beard to greet him, ¹⁰ Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichri’s son Sheba.

⁹ But as for the wicked, they do not speak truth at all. Inside them there is only wickedness. Their throat is an open grave, on their tongue is deceitful flattery.

² Everyone speaks lies to his neighbor; they speak with flattering lips and hidden motives.

³ The one who does not slander with his tongue, who does no evil to his neighbor, and who does not destroy his friend’s reputation.

²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.

²¹ His mouth is as smooth as butter, while war is in his heart. His words were as smooth as olive oil, while his sword is drawn.

⁵ I will destroy the one who secretly slanders a friend. I will not allow the proud and haughty to prevail.

²⁴ Someone who hates hides behind his words, harboring deceit within himself. ²⁵ Though he speaks graciously, don’t believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart. ²⁶ Though malice disguises itself with deception, its evil will be exposed publicly.

²⁰ A Question about Paying Taxes
So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction of the governor, ²¹ so they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you’re right in what you say and teach, and that you don’t favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully.

¹ To the Director: To Jeduthun. A Davidic Psalm.
A Prayer about Life’s Priorities I told myself, “I will keep watch over my tongue to keep from sinning. I will muzzle my mouth when the wicked are around.”

²⁷ Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

³ Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much.

¹⁹ You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

² For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body.

⁵ God Decides to Destroy the WorldThe LORD saw that human evil was growing more and more throughout the earth, with every inclination of people’s thoughts becoming only evil on a continuous basis.

²¹ When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, he told himself, “I will never again curse the land because of human beings—even though human inclinations remain evil from youth—nor will I destroy every living being ever again, as I’ve done.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.

¹⁸ Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword, but what the wise say promotes healing.

⁴ A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

¹³ Kings take pleasure in righteous speech; they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.

⁷ for as he thinks within himself, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he’ll say to you, but his heart won’t be with you.

¹¹ Like golden apples set in silver is a word spoken at the right time. ¹² Like a gold earring and a necklace of pure gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

⁹ The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart“The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is incurable— who can know it?

³⁴ You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. ³⁵ A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house.

³ Look! You’ve admonished many people, and you’ve strengthened feeble hands. ⁴ A word from you has supported those who have stumbled, and has strengthened faltering knees.

¹² I haven’t wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I’ve treasured what he has said more than my own meals.”

²¹ “They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel. ²² After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous one produces wisdom; his tongue speaks justice.

²⁹ “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD;

³¹ They will eat the fruit of their way, and they will be filled with their own devices.

²³ He will die for lack of discipline, and he goes astray because of his great folly.

¹⁶ What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless?

⁹ ConclusionsMoreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.

¹⁵ I’ll give you shepherds after my own heart, and they’ll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense.”

¹⁶ Your words were found, and I consumed them. Your words were joy and my hearts delight, because I bear your name, LORD God of the Heavenly Armies.

⁶ My people are destroyed because they lack knowledge of me. Because you rejected that knowledge, I will reject you as a priest for me. Since you forget the Law of your God, I will also forget your children.

¹⁹ When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

¹⁹ And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed.

¹⁵ Jesus Speaks with PeterWhen they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
¹⁶ Then he asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus told him, “Take care of my sheep.” ¹⁷ He asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So he told him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!”
Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.

²⁸ Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to keep knowing God fully, God delivered them to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done.

² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires.

² I’ll make a great nation of your descendants, I’ll bless you, and I’ll make your reputation great, so that you will be a blessing.

² Now Abram had become quite wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.

²³ that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you won’t be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’

³⁵ “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become wealthy. He has provided him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.

¹² Isaac Grows WealthyIsaac received a 100-fold return on what he planted that year in the land he received, because the LORD blessed him.

¹⁷ You may say to yourselves, ‘I have become wealthy by my own strength and by my own ability.’ ¹⁸ But remember the LORD your God, because he is the one who gives you the ability to produce wealth, in order to confirm his covenant that he promised by an oath to your ancestors, as is the case today.

¹⁸ Now as for you, everything has been turned over for destruction. Don’t covet or take any of these things. Otherwise, you’ll make the camp of Israel itself an object worthy of destruction, and bring trouble on it.

¹ Israel is Defeated at AiLater, the Israelis broke their promise regarding the things that had been turned over to destruction. Carmi’s son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah from the tribe of Judah, appropriated some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. As a result, the LORD became angry with the Israelis.
² Meanwhile, Joshua had sent some soldiers from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He ordered them, “Go up and scout the land.” So the soldiers went up and scouted Ai and ³ returned to Joshua.
“Not all of the people need to go up,” they reported. “Only about two or three thousand men should attack Ai. Since they are so few, don’t make all of the army work hard up there.”
⁴ So about three thousand went up there, but they ran away from the men of Ai. ⁵ The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence. ⁶ At this, Joshua tore his clothes, fell down to the ground on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening—he and the leaders of Israel—and they covered their heads with dust. ⁷ “Lord GOD,” Joshua asked, “Why have you brought this people across the Jordan River? To hand us over to the Amorites so we’ll be destroyed? Wouldn’t it have been better for us to be content to settle on the other side of the Jordan? ⁸ Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has run away from its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate us from the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?”
¹⁰ The LORD Rebukes Joshua“Get up!” the LORD replied to Joshua. “Why have you fallen on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned. They broke my covenant that I commanded them by taking some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. They have stolen, have been deceitful, and have stored what they stole among their own belongings. ¹² The Israelis have been unable to stand before their enemies. They’re turning their backs and running from their enemies because they themselves have been turned over to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy these things that have been turned over to destruction. ¹³ So get up and sanctify the people. Tell them, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, because this is what the LORD God of Israel, says: “There are things turned over to destruction among you, Israel. You won’t be able to defeat your enemies until you remove what has been turned over to destruction. ¹⁴ Tomorrow morning you are to come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects is to come forward by tribes, the tribe that the LORD selects is to come forward by households, and the household that the LORD selects is to come forward one by one. ¹⁵ The one selected as having taken what has been turned over to destruction is to be incinerated, along with everything that pertains to him, because he has transgressed against the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrageous thing in Israel.”’”
¹⁶ Achan’s Sin RevealedSo Joshua got up early that morning, brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. ¹⁷ He brought near the tribes of Judah, and the Zerahite tribe was selected. Then he brought near the Zerahite tribe family by family, and the household of Zabdi was selected. ¹⁸ Next, he brought near his household one by one, and Carmi’s son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah, was selected from the tribe of Judah.
¹⁹ Joshua then spoke to Achan, “My son, give glory and praise to the LORD God of Israel. Tell me right now what you did. Don’t hide anything.”
²⁰ Achan answered Joshua, “It’s true. I’m the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. ²¹ I noticed among the war spoils a beautiful mantle from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. Because I wanted them, I took them, and they’re buried in the ground inside my tent. The silver is underneath.”
²² So Joshua sent some messengers, who ran to the tent. And there it was, hidden in the tent with the silver underneath. ²³ They took the things from the tent that had been turned over to destruction, brought them to Joshua and all of the Israelis, and laid them out in the presence of the LORD. ²⁴ Then Joshua, with all Israel accompanying him, took Zerah’s son Achan, along with the silver, the mantle, the gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that belonged to him to the Valley of Achor.
²⁵ Joshua announced, “Why did you bring trouble to us? Today the LORD is bringing trouble to you!” So all Israel stoned him to death, incinerated them, and buried them with stones, ²⁶ piling up a large mound of boulders that remains to this day. After this, the LORD turned his burning anger away, and that is why that place is called “the Valley of Achor” to this day.

⁷ The LORD makes people poor and he makes people rich, he brings them low, and he also exalts them. ⁸ He raises the poor up from the dust, he lifts up the needy from the trash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the LORD, and he has set the world on them.

¹⁹ Ask the king, ‘Did you commit murder? And now you’re going to steal as well?’ Also tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Where the dogs were licking up Naboth’s blood, dogs will also lick up your blood—that’s right—yours!”’”

²⁶ But Elisha responded, “Didn’t my heart break as the man was turning from his chariot to greet you? Is now the time to receive money? To receive clothes? And olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, servants, or female attendants? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will plague you and your descendants forever!” As he left Elisha’s presence, he was infected with leprosy that looked like white snow.

⁸ For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated; when God takes away his life? ⁹ Will God hear his cry when distress overtakes him? ¹⁰ Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?”
¹¹ On the Demise of the Wicked“I’ll teach you about the power of God, that which is with the Almighty I won’t conceal. ¹² Look! All of you have been watching, so why have you become so completely worthless? ¹³ “This is what a wicked person inherits from God, and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty: ¹⁴ If he has many children, their destiny is to die by the sword, and his descendants won’t have enough food. ¹⁵ Those who do survive him disease will bury, and his widow won’t even weep. ¹⁶ “Though he hoards silver like dust, and stores away garments like clay, ¹⁷ whatever he stores up, the righteous will wear, and the innocent will inherit that silver! ¹⁸ “He has built his house like a moth’s cocoon, like a temporary sunshade that a watchman makes. ¹⁹ He will go to bed wealthy, but won’t be doing that anymore! When he opens his eyes, it will be gone! ²⁰ Terror will overtake him like a flood, at night, a tornado will sweep him away. ²¹ He’ll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away; he’ll be whirled away from his place. ²² It will toss him around without pity. He’ll try to break free from its grip, ²³ but it will clap its hands over him, hissing at him as it lunges toward him.”

²² For those blessed by God will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be cut off.

³⁸ Then he blessed them, and they became numerous; he multiplied their cattle.

⁷ He lifts the poor person from the dust, raising the needy from the trash pile ⁸ and giving him a seat among nobles— with the nobles of his people.

²¹ An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

²² The miser is in a hurry to get wealthy, but he isn’t aware that poverty will catch up with him.

⁶ Judgment on the Plunderer of Nations“Will not all of these ridicule him with mocking scorn? They will say, ‘Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn’t his. How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?’ ⁷ Won’t your creditors revolt unexpectedly? Won’t those who make you tremble wake up? As a result, you’ll become their prey! ⁸ Because you plundered many nations, all of their remnants will plunder you. Human blood has been shed, and violence has been done to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it.”
⁹ Judgment on Those who Think They are Safe“Woe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit in order to establish his household, so he can establish a secure place on the heights and escape from the power of evil. ¹⁰ You have brought shame to yourself by killing many people— you are forfeiting your own life. ¹¹ Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.”
¹² Judgment on the Lawless“Woe to the one who founds a city upon bloodshed, and constructs a city by lawlessness.

⁴ “I am bringing this about,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. “The curse will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who lies in my name. The curse will remain in his house until that house has been completely destroyed, right down to its timber and stones.”

¹ Advice for Rich PeopleNow listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you. ² Your riches are rotten, your clothes have been eaten by moths, ³ your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasures in these last days. ⁴ Look! The wages that you kept back from the workers who harvested your fields are shouting out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies. ⁵ You have lived in luxury and pleasure on earth. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.

¹⁴ who delight in doing evil, and rejoice in the perverseness of evil;

⁹ Fools make fun of guilt, but among the upright there are good intentions.

²¹ Stupidity is the delight of the senseless, but an understanding man walks uprightly.

¹⁸ Like the maniac who shoots fiery darts and deadly arrows— ¹⁹ that’s what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, “I was joking, wasn’t I?”

⁹ So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything.

²⁵ For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me, what caused me to worry has engulfed me.

²¹ Terrifying sounds ring in his ears; when times are prosperous, the Destroyer will attack him.

² You have granted him the desire of his heart, and have not withheld what his lips requested. Interlude

⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, hearing their cry and saving them.

⁴ Therefore I, too, will choose harsh treatment for them, and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen; but they did what I consider to be evil, and chose what doesn’t please me.”

⁶ “How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied!

¹⁸ I’m not going to forsake you like orphans. I will come back to you.

²⁴ So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”

²⁷ but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him: if we ask for anything according to his will, he listens to us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he listens to our requests, we can be sure that we have what we ask him for.

¹⁸ May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that’s swept off by a storm.

¹⁹ He will go to bed wealthy, but won’t be doing that anymore! When he opens his eyes, it will be gone! ²⁰ Terror will overtake him like a flood, at night, a tornado will sweep him away. ²¹ He’ll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away; he’ll be whirled away from his place.

⁵ who does not loan his money with interest, and who does not take a bribe against those who are innocent. The one who does these things will stand firm forever.

⁹ Those who do evil will perish. But those who wait on the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰ Yet a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more. You will search for his place, but he will not be there.

⁹ Before your clay pots are placed on a fire of burning thorns— whether green or ablaze— wrath will sweep them away like a storm.

¹⁸ You have certainly set them in slippery places; you will make them fall to their ruin. ¹⁹ How desolate they quickly become, completely destroyed by calamities. ²⁰ Like a dream when one awakens, Lord, you will despise their image when you arise.

²⁷ when what you dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

³⁰ The righteous will never be overthrown, but the wicked will never inhabit the land.

³ A person doesn’t gain security by wickedness, but the righteous won’t be uprooted.

⁷ After they’re overthrown, the wicked won’t be found, but the house of the righteous stands firm.

²⁴ No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the earth, than he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest sweeps them away like stubble.

¹⁸ I tell you that you are Peter, and it is on this rock that I will build my congregation, and the powers of hell will not conquer it.

²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

¹⁹ By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.

¹⁹ However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

¹³ Like cold snow during harvest time is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes his masters.

²⁰ Taking your coat off when it’s cold or pouring vinegar on soda— that’s what singing songs does to a heavy heart.

⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁵ who say, ‘Keep to yourself!’ ‘Don’t touch me!’ and ‘I am too holy for you!’ “Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day long.

²⁶ “His master answered him, ‘You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven’t planted and gathered where I haven’t scattered any seed?

¹¹ Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.

¹² Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

³² This will be accomplished before his time; his branches won’t grow luxuriant. ³³ “He is like a vine that drops its unripe grapes; like an olive tree that loses its blossoms.

¹⁵ “Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread, ¹⁶ who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

⁴ He asked life from you, and you gave it to him— a long life for ever and ever.

¹¹ Come, children, listen to me, and I will teach you the fear of the LORD. ¹² Who among you desires life, and wants long life in order to see good? ¹³ Then keep your tongue from doing evil and your lips from spreading lies.

²³ But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I put my full confidence in you.

¹⁶ I will satisfy him with long life; I will show him my deliverance.

² For they will add length to your days, years to your life, and abundant peace to you.

¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are riches and honor.

¹¹ For because of me you will live a long life, and years will be added to your life.

¹⁷ Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?

¹¹ As a partridge gathers together eggs that it didn’t lay, so is a person who amasses wealth unjustly. In the middle of his life it will leave him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.

²⁰ But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’

¹³ Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God— the hope of the godless will be destroyed:

²⁰ But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath.”

⁹ Therefore, my heart is glad, my whole being rejoices, and my body will dwell securely.

²⁴ You will guide me with your wise advice, and later you will receive me with honor. ²⁵ Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire nothing on this earth. ²⁶ My body and mind may fail, but God is my strength and my portion forever.

⁷ When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes; and what he expected from his scheming comes to nothing.

²³ In the afterlife, where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.’
²⁵ “But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, while Lazarus received hardships. But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. ²⁶ Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.’

² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we have been established, and we boast because of our hope in God’s glory.

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer.

¹³ Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,

³ if not calamity that is due the unjust, and misfortune that is due those who practice iniquity?

⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.

¹² There, those who do evil have fallen; They have been thrown down, and they cannot get up.

²⁰ Indeed, the wicked will perish. The LORD’s enemies will be consumed like flowers in the fields. They will vanish like smoke.

⁷ They will walk from strength to strength; each will appear before God in Zion.

⁷ Though the wicked sprout like grass; and all who practice iniquity flourish, it is they who will be eternally destroyed.

¹⁵ Administering justice brings joy to the righteous, but terror to those who practice iniquity.

³¹ but those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they’ll soar on wings like eagles; they’ll run and not grow weary; they’ll walk and not grow tired.”

¹² “I will strengthen them in the LORD, and they will march here and there in his name,” declares the LORD.

²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn’t we?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!’”

²⁶ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But he will tell you, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who practice evil!’

⁸ but wrath and fury for those who in their selfish pride refuse to believe the truth and practice wickedness instead. ⁹ There will be suffering and anguish for every human being who practices doing evil, for Jews first and for Greeks as well.

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

⁸ I have set the LORD before me continuously; because he stands at my right hand, I will stand firm.

²⁸ Indeed, the LORD loves justice, and he will not abandon his godly ones. They are kept safe forever, but the lawless will be chased away, and the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land, and they will dwell in it forever.

⁵ But God will tear you down forever; he will take you away, even snatching you out of your tent! He will uproot you from the land of the living. Interlude

¹ A Song of Ascents
God is Secure Those who are trusting in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be overthrown. They remain forever.

²¹ For the upright will live in the land, and people of integrity will remain in it. ²² But the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

²⁵ When the storm ends, the wicked vanish, but the righteous person is forever firm.

²⁴ “Son of Man, those who are living among these ruins of the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, but he was able to possess the land! As for us, we’re a multitude, and the land has been given to us as an inheritance.’ ²⁵ So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “You keep eating flesh along with its blood, you keep looking to your idols, and you keep shedding blood, and you’re going to take possession of the land? ²⁶ You keep trusting in your weapons, you continue to commit loathsome deeds, men keep defiling their neighbors’ wives, and you’re going to take possession of the land?’

⁹ You have evicted the wives of my people from their dream homes; you have removed my majesty from their children permanently. ¹⁰ “Get up and go, because there’s no rest for you here! Since everything is polluted, it can only cause destruction, even heavy destruction.

⁴¹ They told him, “He will put those horrible men to a horrible death. Then he will lease the vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at harvest time.”

³⁵ Who will separate us from the Messiah’s love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long. We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter.”
³⁷ In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord.

¹⁸ Let the lying lips be made still, especially those who speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

¹¹ But as for the king, he will rejoice in God. Indeed, everyone who swears by God will exult, because the mouths of liars will be silenced.

³ What will be given to you, and what will be done to you, you treacherous tongue? ⁴ Like a sharp arrow from a warrior, along with fiery coals from juniper trees!

¹³ Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.

¹² delivering you from the way of evil, from men who speak perverse things,

¹¹ Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up, but what the wicked say tears it down.

⁶ The words of the wicked lead to bloodshed, but the speech of the upright delivers them.

² The wise speak, presenting knowledge appropriately, but fools spout foolishness.

²⁸ The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking, but the wicked person spews out evil.

⁶ A fool’s words bring strife, and his mouth invites fighting. ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his unraveling, and his lips entrap himself. ⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels as they descend to the innermost parts of the body.

¹⁰ The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.

⁸ Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.