Proverbs 26 Cross References - MSB

¹ Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. ² Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. ⁶ Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. ⁷ Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ⁸ Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. ⁹ Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby. ¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. ¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. ¹³ The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!” ¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed. ¹⁵ The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. ¹⁶ The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. ¹⁷ Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own. ¹⁸ Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, ¹⁹ so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” ²⁰ Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. ²¹ Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. ²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. ²³ Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. ²⁴ A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. ²⁶ Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. ²⁷ He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

⁷ When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

²⁰ But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

⁵⁶ In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

¹⁷ Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” ¹⁸ So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

¹ After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. ² All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage. ³ Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?” ⁴ Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew. ⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. ⁶ And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes. ⁷ In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. ⁸ Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.” ¹⁰ So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. ¹¹ “Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.” ¹² On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring. ¹³ And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. ¹⁴ A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day. ¹⁵ The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

⁹ So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

⁸ The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

⁴ who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

¹ For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.

⁷ Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

¹⁰ Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

⁸ Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

¹⁶ A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler: ⁶ Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions. ⁷ I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

⁸ How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?

⁴ For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. ⁵ Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

²⁸ Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.” ²⁹ “My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

⁴³ “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

¹² Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

² because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

²⁸ Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.

⁸ Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.

⁵ So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” ⁶ But the leaders of Succoth asked, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your possession, that we should give bread to your army?” ⁷ “Very well,” Gideon replied, “when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with the thorns and briers of the wilderness!”

⁹ Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

¹⁰ A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

²² Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.

²¹ Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

² I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I write to warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,

¹ Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” ² But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. ³ When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?” ⁴ Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.” ⁵ The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” ⁶ they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

⁴¹ Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” ⁴² And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” ⁴³ “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

¹⁴ and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said. ⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

¹⁴ To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

²¹ But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: ²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” ²³ When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, knowing that to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

⁹ But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

²⁴ Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?” ²⁵ Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.” ²⁶ And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, ²⁷ and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’” ²⁸ But Micaiah replied, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take heed, all you people!”

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.

²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

¹⁷ “Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?” ¹⁸ “It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

¹ Then some scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” ³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

¹ Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. ² But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

²³ When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” ²⁴ “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. ¹⁷ So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? ¹⁹ Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰ “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” ²¹ “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” ²² And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away. ²³ That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him. ²⁴ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. ²⁷ And last of all, the woman also died. ²⁸ In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her.” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels of God in heaven. ³¹ But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” ¹⁶ Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. ¹⁷ So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ ²¹ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

²³ “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ ²⁶ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ ²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

⁷ When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

²⁶ “What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?” ²⁷ He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” ²⁸ Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.” ³⁰ “That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. ³² Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.”

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

²⁶ Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁶ To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips? ¹⁷ For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you. ¹⁸ When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers. ¹⁹ You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit. ²⁰ You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. ²¹ You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

⁸ They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.

⁹ Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’”

¹ Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

²² a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,

³⁵ “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

⁶ God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

¹⁵ When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”

²² Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

²⁹ Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

¹⁶ The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

⁴⁴ And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

¹ Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. ² In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

¹⁹ The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

¹³ The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”

⁹ How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

²⁷ A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

¹² Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

²⁴ The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

¹⁵ But in your hearts sanctify the God Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

⁶ A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

³ It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

¹⁴ But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

²³ But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

²³ The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.

²³ until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

¹⁸ Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

¹¹ Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who array yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and of the firebrands you have lit! This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in a place of torment.

²³ The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

⁹ Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.

²¹ Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

¹³ They will receive the wages is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.

²⁸ A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.

²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

¹ Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

² When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. ³ So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

²⁰ When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

⁴ Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!

¹² Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

²² An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

³³ For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

¹⁹ He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

⁹ Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.

⁹ “Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

³¹ So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

²⁷ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.

³⁹ “Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁶ My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.

¹ Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

¹⁷ He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.

²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.

² They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

³ Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.

¹⁶ There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

² If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. ³ “They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. ⁴ “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. ⁵ Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. ⁶ You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD. ⁷ Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people? ⁸ Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

⁶ Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

⁵ Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.

²³ At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

⁸ Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

²¹ “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. ²⁸ Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹ May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” ³⁰ (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

²² And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar. ²³ Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. ²⁴ And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?” ²⁵ “No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing. ²⁶ “If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked. ²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons. ²⁸ Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

²¹ His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. ²² Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. ²³ But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

¹⁵ He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. ¹⁶ His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

² In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

⁶ They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah

¹⁰ He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

⁸ He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.

²⁴ to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

⁵ that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

²¹ With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. ²² He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, ²³ until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

⁵ A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

²⁰ So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. ²¹ “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

⁴⁰ But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.

⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me! ⁴⁶ Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” ⁴⁸ The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” ⁴⁹ “I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

³² But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from My Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” ³³ “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.