Proverbs 13 Cross References - NSB

¹ A wise son heeds his father's instruction (discipline). A scoffer does not listen to discipline (reproof). ² A man eats well by the fruit of his mouth. Transgressors eat violence. ³ He who keeps his mouth (watches what he says) keeps his life. He who opens wide his lips (speaks thoughtlessly) will have destruction. ⁴ The lazy man desires and has nothing. The diligent man will be made rich. ⁵ A righteous man hates lying. A wicked man is loathsome and shameful. ⁶ Righteousness keeps the upright in the way. Wickedness subverts the sinner. ⁷ There is one who claims to be rich, yet has nothing. There is one who claims to be poor, yet has great riches. ⁸ The ransom of a man's life is his riches. The poor [in spirit] does not listen to rebuke. ⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ¹⁰ Pride brings contention, but wisdom is with the well advised. ¹¹ Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished. He who gathers by labor will increase. ¹² Expectation deferred makes the heart sick. When the desire comes, it is a tree of life. ¹³ The one who despises the word will experience bad consequences (be destroyed). He who respects the commandment will be rewarded. ¹⁴ The law of the wise is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. ¹⁵ Good understanding gives favor. The way of transgressors is hard. ¹⁶ Every prudent man acts with knowledge. A fool displays his folly. ¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into adversity. A faithful ambassador brings healing. ¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to all who reject discipline. He who accepts reproof will be honored. ¹⁹ Desire accomplished is sweetness to life. It is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. ²⁰ The one who walks with wise men will be wise. A companion of fools will be destroyed. ²¹ Adversity pursues sinners. The righteous will be repaid with goodness. ²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The wealth of the sinner is preserved for the righteous. ²³ Abundant foods is in the fallow ground of the poor. There is waste because of a lack of justice. ²⁴ He who spares the rod (authority) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines (instructs) him promptly. ²⁵ The righteous eats to satisfaction. The belly of the wicked is in need.

²⁵ »If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against Jehovah, who will intercede for him?« But his sons did not listen to the voice of their father. Jehovah desired to put them to death.

¹ Listen my sons to what your father teaches you. Pay attention and gain understanding. ² I give you good instruction. Do not abandon my Law! ³ I was my father’s son, tender and the only son to my mother. ⁴ Father taught me. He said: »Remember my words in your heart. Obey my commandments and live. ⁵ »Achieve wisdom and understanding! Do not forget or ignore what I say. ⁶ »Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe. ⁷ »Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding. ⁸ »Love wisdom and she will exalt you. Embrace wisdom and she will honor you. ⁹ »She will present you with a crown of glory.« ¹⁰ Listen to me, my son. Accept what I tell you and live a long life. ¹¹ I taught you wisdom and the right way to live. ¹² Walk with wisdom and nothing will stand in your way. Run with wisdom and you will not stumble. ¹³ Take firm hold of instruction and do not let go. Obey her for she is your life. ¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words. Incline your ear (extend your hearing) to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them leave your sight. Hold them in the midst of your heart! ²² For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

⁷ Correct a scoffer and get dishonor for yourself. Rebuke a wicked man and receive insults. ⁸ Correct a scoffer (mocker) (scorner) and he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

¹ A wise son makes a father glad: but a foolish son is sorrow (depression) (grief) for his mother.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it. Knowledge is easy to him who discerns.

⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who accepts discipline is prudent.

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

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, ¹⁵ Because you have said: »We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge. We have hidden under falsehood!«

⁸ Jehovah holds a cup in his hand. The wine foams and is well mixed. So he pours from it. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.

¹¹ Do not let slanderers prosper on earth. Let evil hunt down violent people with one blow after another.

¹¹ If they say: »Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us ambush the innocent without cause. ¹² »Let us swallow them alive and whole just as the grave does, and just as the dead go into the pit. ¹³ »We will find precious material possessions and we fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁸ They lie in wait for their own blood (murder). They set an ambush for their own lives.

³¹ »Now you will get what you deserve for what you have done. Your own advice will make you sick.

¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

¹¹ The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life. Aggression comes from the mouth of the wicked.

¹⁴ A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The deeds of a man's hands will return to him.

²⁰ A man's stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with the produce from his lips.

²⁷ »Jehovah said: ‘Say to them, This is what Jehovah of Hosts, »the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, vomit, fall down, and do not get up because of the wars that I am going to send you.«’ ²⁸ »‘If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink from it, say to them: ‘This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: »You must drink from it! ²⁹ »‘I am going to bring disaster on the city that is named after me. Do you think you will go unpunished? You will not go unpunished! I am declaring war on all those who live on earth,’ declares Jehovah of Hosts. ³⁰ »That is why you will prophecy all these things to them and say: Jehovah roars from above. He thunders from his holy dwelling place. He roars against his land. He shouts like those who stomp grapes. He shouts against all those who live on earth. ³¹ »‘The sound is echoing to the ends of the earth because Jehovah has brought charges against the nations. He will judge all humans. He will kill the wicked,’ declares Jehovah.

⁸ »The people who remain will plunder you because you have plundered many nations. It is because of the blood you shed and the violence you brought on the land, the city and all who dwell there.

¹⁷ »The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you. The destruction of the animals and shedding of blood will frighten you. The violence done to the inhabitants of the land and the city will terrify you.

⁶ »They have shed the blood of the holy ones and prophets. You give them blood to drink for they deserve it.«

¹ ([Psalm of David]) I said: »I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue. I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.«

¹⁹ Sin does not hide from a multitude of words. The wise controls his lips.

¹³ The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips. The righteous will depart from trouble.

⁷ A fool's mouth is his ruin. His lips are the snares of his life.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Those who love it will eat the fruit.

¹⁹ A gossip reveals secrets. So avoid a man who speaks flattering words.

²³ He who guards his mouth and holds his tongue stays out of trouble.

³⁶ »I tell you there will be an account in the Judgment Day for every careless word that men say. ³⁷ »For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.«

²⁶ If any man thinks he is religious, while he does not control his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain (worthless) (useless).

² We all stumble in many things. If any do not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to restrain (control) the whole body. ³ We put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us. We guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Look at ships. They are large and are driven by rough winds. Yet a very small rudder can control them, wherever the captain wills. ⁵ The tongue also is a little member. It boasts great things. Consider how great a forest fire a small fire kindles! ⁶ The tongue is like fire, the place of iniquity among our members. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of our life. It is set ablaze like the ever-burning fires in the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna: symbolic of total destruction). ⁷ Every kind of beast and bird, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil. It is full of deadly poison. ⁹ We bless Jehovah, the Father, with it. (Psalm 34:1) Then we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. ¹⁰ Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth! My brothers, these things should not be. ¹¹ Does the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet.

¹⁰ »‘The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.’«

¹⁴ Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.

² Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your [mind and] heart (inner being) reach for discernment. ³ Call out for insight. Lift up your voice for understanding. ⁴ Search for wisdom as if it were silver. Hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure! ⁵ If you do these things you will have respect for Jehovah and you will find the true knowledge of God! ⁶ Jehovah gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷ He stores up insightful (sound) (substantial) wisdom for the upright. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity. ⁸ He guards those on paths of justice. He watches over the way of his godly ones. ⁹ You will understand righteousness and justice. You will have equity and every good course in life.

³⁴ »Blessed is the man who listens to me. He watches daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.

⁴ He becomes poor who deals with a lazy hand. The hand of the diligent makes rich.

²⁵ The liberal person will prosper. He who waters will be watered.

¹¹ He who tills his land will have plenty of bread. He who follows worthless people lacks sense.

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will bear rule. The lazy will be under forced labor.

¹³ The lazy man says: »There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.«

²⁵ The person with a proud heart stirs up discord. The person who trusts Jehovah will prosper.

¹¹ Jehovah will continually guide you. He will satisfy your desire in scorched places and give strength to your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

²⁷ »Do not work for food that perishes but for food that offers everlasting life. The Son of man will give you this food. The Father, even God, has set his seal upon him.«

¹¹ We desire that every one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope down to the end.

⁵ Yes, for this very reason you do your part with all diligence. Supply virtue to your faith. Add knowledge to your virtue. ⁶ Include self-control with your knowledge. Supply patience to your self-control. Your patience should be helped by godliness. ⁷ Add brotherly kindness to your godliness. And to your brotherly kindness add love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound in you they will keep you from being inactive or unfruitful regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. ¹⁰ Brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election (choosing) sure. If you do (practice) (exercise) (apply) these things, you will never stumble! ¹¹ For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly (abundantly) supplied to you.

¹⁶³ I hate and despise falsehood and I love your law.

³⁵ Wise people will inherit glory. But disgrace is the legacy of stupid (foolish) people.

¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food necessary for me.

⁹ »Then those who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. I was hurt by their adulterous hearts, which turned away from me, and by their eyes, which lusted after idols. They will hate themselves for the evil and disgusting things that they have done.

⁴³ ‘»There you will remember the way you lived and everything you did to dishonor yourselves. You will be disgusted by every wrong thing that you did.

³¹ »‘Then you will remember your evil ways and the bad things that you did. You will hate yourselves for all these wicked and disgusting things.

² »Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

⁸ »And I eliminated the three shepherds in one month. I was tired of them, and they also abhorred me (found me repugnant).

²⁵ Put away falsehood. Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor: for we are members (belonging to) (together with) of one another.

⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you got rid of the old self with its evil practices.

⁸ »But the fearful and unbelieving, abominable and murderers, fornicators and those practicing spiritism, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur: which is the second death.«

²³ He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus. These were the gods who had defeated him. He thought: »The gods of the kings of Aram are helping them. I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me. But they ruined him and all Israel.«

² The one who walks with integrity and does what is righteous. He speaks the truth in his heart.

²¹ Integrity and honesty will protect me because I wait for you.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Vindicate me, O Jehovah, because I have walked with (a life-style of) integrity and I have trusted you without wavering.

²² His own iniquities will catch the wicked. He will be held with the cords of his sins.

³ The integrity of the upright will guide them. The perverseness of transgressors will destroy them.

⁵ Righteousness of the undefiled [man of integrity] directs his way! Wickedness causes the evil to fall. ⁶ Righteousness will deliver the upright. Greed will capture the unfaithful.

¹² The righteous considers the house of the wicked but overthrows the wicked to their ruin.

²⁴ There is one who scatters, and yet increases. There is one who withholds what is due and it leads to poverty.

⁹ He with a servant who is lightly esteemed is better off than he who has no food and yet is honored.

¹¹ Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished. He who gathers by labor will increase.

¹ Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, and even to eight. You do not know what calamity will be upon the earth.

²¹ »He who lays up (earthly) treasure for himself is not rich toward God.«

³³ »Sell your possessions and give to charity. Make yourselves purses that do not get old, a treasure in heaven where moth and rest cannot corrupt and thieves cannot steal.

¹¹ »The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² »I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get. ¹³ »But the tax collector stood far away and would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴ »I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted!«

⁸ You are full and now you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us. I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ. But you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. ¹¹ Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst. We are naked. We are treated badly and we are homeless.

⁷ We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power beyond what is normal may be from God, and not from ourselves.

¹⁰ Also as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

⁵ Listen, my dearly beloved brothers! Did God choose poor people in the world to be rich in faith and to receive the kingdom he promised to those who love him?

¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they are bondservants of corruption. A man is brought into bondage by one and enslaved by another.

⁹ »'I know your troubles. I know that you are poor, but you are rich! I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not. Their synagogue belongs to Satan!

¹⁷ »'You say, «I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing." You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

³⁰ »If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him.

¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar carried away as prisoners the people of Jerusalem, all the royal princes, and all the leading men, ten thousand in all. He also deported all the skilled workers, including the blacksmiths, leaving only the poorest of the people behind in Judah.

¹² He let the poorest of the land go on living there, to take care of the vines and the fields.

⁴ Satan answered Jehovah: »Skin for skin! Certainly, a man will give everything he has for his life.

⁶ They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth. ⁷ No one can ever redeem (buy back) his brother or pay God a ransom for his life. ⁸ The price to be paid for him is so costly it can never be paid ⁹ so they should live forever and never see the grave (pit) (destruction). ¹⁰ One can see that wise people die, that foolish and stupid people meet the same end. They leave their wealth to others.

³⁵ He will not regard any ransom, nor will he be content when you give many gifts.

¹⁰ He left in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he gave them vineyards and fields.

⁸ Ten men from the group pleaded with Ishmael: »Do not kill us! We have wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey hidden in the country.« So he left them alone and did not kill them along with the others.

¹² »I will leave a faithful few, a humble and lowly people with you. They will seek refuge in the name of Jehovah.

²⁶ »What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life?

¹⁸ Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ.

³⁶ »‘I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe. That way I will always have a descendant of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place where I am worshiped.

⁵ »The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. The flame of his fire shall not shine. ⁶ »The light in his tent becomes dark. The lamp beside him will be put out.

¹⁷ »How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains and sorrow in his anger?

³ when his lamp shone over my head, and by his light I walked through darkness.

¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the upright. He is gracious, compassionate, and fair.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the shining light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the more perfect day.

²⁰ He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness.

²⁰ There is no reward for the evil man! The candle of the wicked will be put out.

¹⁰ Who among you respects Jehovah and obeys his servant? Let those who walk in darkness and have no light trust the name of Jehovah and depend upon their God. ¹¹ But all of you light fires and arm yourselves with flaming torches. So walk in your own light and among the torches you have lit. This is what you will receive from me: You will be tormented.

¹³ »The king gave orders for that person to be tied hand and foot and thrown outside into the dark. That is where people will cry and grind their teeth in pain.

⁸ »All the foolish virgins said to the wise: ‘Give us your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

¹ Then the people of Ephraim said to Gideon: »Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? Why did you treat us like this?« They complained bitterly about it. ² He said: »What have I accomplished compared to you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? ³ »God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, to you. What was I able to do in comparison to you?« Then their anger toward him subsided at what he said.

¹ The men of Ephraim were ready for battle. They crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah: »Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We are going to burn the house down over your head!« ² Jephthah replied: »My people and I had a great struggle with the Ammonites. I called you, but you would not rescue me from them. ³ »When I realized you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them. Jehovah gave me victory over them. Why are you coming to fight me now?« ⁴ Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together and fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them. ⁵ To keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask: »Are you an Ephraimite?« If he said: »No,« ⁶ they would tell him to say »Shibboleth.« But he would say »Sibboleth,« because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would kill him at the Jordan River crossing. Forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed.

¹⁰ His young advisors said: »This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: ‘Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?’ Say to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's body.’ ¹¹ »‘If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes.’«

¹⁶ When all Israel realized that the king would not respond to their request, the people in answer said to the king: »What share do we have in David? What is our heritage in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David.« So Israel went away to their tents.

¹⁰ »It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted. Let that glory be enough for you and stay in your own country. Why do you make causes for trouble, putting yourself and Judah with you in danger of downfall?«

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. He who listens to counsel is wise. ¹⁶ A fool's anger is instantly known. A prudent man conceals shame.

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like releasing water [from a floodgate]. Therefore stop contention before it begins.

²⁰ Listen to counsel and accept instruction (discipline), that you may be wise in the future.

¹⁸ Good counsel makes for good plans. Seek good counsel if you wage war.

²⁴ »Proud and haughty mocker« is his name. He acts with overbearing pride.

⁸ Do not run quickly to court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame.

²⁸ »If you plan to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost. Then you see if you have enough money to finish the job. ²⁹ »If you do not, you will not be able to finish the project after laying the foundation. Everyone who sees what happened will ridicule and poke fun of you. ³⁰ »‘You started and could not finish,’ they will say. ³¹ »When a king commands ten thousand men to fight another king who comes against him with twenty thousand men, he will sit down first and decide if he is strong enough to defeat the other king. ³² »If he is not strong enough he will send messengers to the other king to ask for terms of peace while he is still far away.«

²⁴ Contention grew between them concerning which of them was the greatest.

¹ The number of disciples increased at that time. A murmuring arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² The twelve called the congregation of the disciples to them. They said: »It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God and serve tables. ³ »Therefore brothers select seven men who have a good reputation. Men who are full of spirit and wisdom that we may appoint to take care of this business. ⁴ »We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.« ⁵ The idea pleased the whole congregation. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch,

⁴ he is proud, knows nothing, has a morbid interest in questions and disputes about words, which leads to envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

¹⁴ If you have bitter jealousy (envy) and greedy ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

¹ What causes wars and fighting among you? Is the cause of fighting your sensual lusts for pleasure that battle within you?

⁵ Or do you think the scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the attitude of the heart (mental disposition) that he induced to live in us cause us to envy? ⁶ But he gives more grace. The scripture said, »God resists the proud, but gives grace (loving-kindness) to the humble.«

⁹ I wrote something to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us. ¹⁰ If I come, I will remind you of what he does. He unjustly accuses us with wicked words and is never satisfied. He does not allow the brothers to greet one another and he throws them out of the congregation.

²⁸ »He will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble. ²⁹ »He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

¹⁵ »He will spit out the riches he swallowed. God will make his stomach vomit them up.

¹⁹ »For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor and left them destitute. He has violently seized houses he did not build. ²⁰ »He will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. ²¹ »There is nothing left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. ²² »Distress will overtake him in the midst of his plenty. The full force of misery will come upon him.

¹⁶ »Though he heaps up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay, ¹⁷ what he lays up the righteous will wear, and the innocent will divide his silver.

² You will certainly eat what your own hands have provided. Blessings to you! May things go well for you!

² Treasures of wickedness (the morally wrong) profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The wealth of the sinner is preserved for the righteous. ²³ Abundant foods is in the fallow ground of the poor. There is waste because of a lack of justice.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but in the end it will not be blessed.

²³ Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds. ²⁴ Riches are not forever: and a crown does not endure for every generation. ²⁵ The hay appears and the tender grass shows itself. Herbs of the mountains are gathered. ²⁶ The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats bring the price of the field. ²⁷ You will have enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidservants.

⁸ He who becomes wealthy through unfair loans and interest collects them for the one who pitys the poor.

²⁰ A faithful man will have many blessings. But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.

²² He who hurries to be rich has an evil eye. He does not think poverty will come to him.

¹⁴ When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he fathered a son, then there was no support for him.

¹¹ »A person who gets rich dishonestly is like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay. During his lifetime, he will lose his wealth. In the end, he will be a wicked fool.«

⁶ »Will they all taunt him by directing clever sayings and riddles at him? They will say: How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich with what is not his own (by extortion) and makes himself wealthy on loans. How long will this go on? ⁷ »Will your creditors and collection agents suddenly arise and make you tremble? Then you will become their prize.

¹ Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and your silver are rusted. Their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up your treasure in the last days. ⁴ Behold, the wages of the laborers who harvested your fields, which are held back by you, cry out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of Jehovah of Hosts. ⁵ You lived in luxury on the earth, and take your pleasure; you nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.

⁶ Sarah said: »God brought me laughter. Everyone who hears about this will laugh on account of me.« ⁷ She added: »Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.«

³⁰ Jacob said to Joseph: »Now I am ready to die. Now that I have seen you and know that you are still alive.«

²⁶ Hannah said to him: »My lord. Do you remember me? I am the woman you saw standing here, praying to Jehovah. ²⁷ »I asked him for this child. He gave me what I asked of him. ²⁸ »So I am dedicating (giving) (granting) him to Jehovah. As long as he lives, he will belong to Jehovah.« Then they worshiped Jehovah there.

¹⁵ I will see your face (be in your presence) when I am declared righteous. When I wake up, I will be satisfied to see (perceive) (comprehend) you.

² He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet upon a rock and made me stand erect. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see, respect and trust in Jehovah.

¹ ([Sons of Korah]) As the deer desires the water brooks, so I desire you, O God. ² I thirst for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? ³ My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long: Where is your God?

³ I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

⁸¹ I long for your salvation. I wait for your word. ⁸² My eyes fail with longing for your word, while I say: When will you comfort me? ⁸³ Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your statutes.

⁷ Answer me quickly, O Jehovah for my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will become like those who go down to the pit.

¹⁸ She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who hold her. Happy are all who keep her.

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

¹⁹ Desire accomplished is sweetness to life. It is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

⁸ »I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, that I am lovesick.«

²⁹ »Let your servant depart according to your word in peace. ³⁰ »My eyes have seen your salvation.

²² »You have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your heart will rejoice and no one can take your joy from you.

² This was in the middle of the street of the city. The tree of life was on each side of the river. It produced twelve kinds of fruit and yielded the fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

³¹ »They have rejected what Jehovah said and have deliberately broken one of his commandments. They are responsible for their own death.«

⁹ »‘Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife! ¹⁰ »‘In every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah’s wife.

¹⁶ They mocked God’s messengers. They despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until Jehovah became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

³ »Let us make an agreement with our God to put away all the wives and all their children, if it seems right to my lord and to those who go in fear of the words of our God. Let it be done in keeping with the law.

¹¹ They warn your servant. There is a great reward in following them.

¹³ He will bless those who reverence and respect Jehovah, from the least important to the most important.

¹⁶⁵ Those who love your law have abundant peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.

²⁵ »You have ignored all my counsel. You accept no correction.

³⁰ »You rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you. ³¹ »Now you will get what you deserve for what you have done. Your own advice will make you sick.

²¹ Adversity pursues sinners. The righteous will be repaid with goodness.

² »I have made all these things. That is why all these things have come into being,« declares Jehovah. »I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry for their sins and who tremble at my word.

² Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant (egotistical) men said to Jeremiah: »You are telling a lie! Jehovah our God has not sent you to say: ‘You are not to enter Egypt to reside there.«

¹⁶ »We refuse to listen to what you have told us in the name of Jehovah. ¹⁷ »We will do everything that we said we would. We will offer sacrifices to our goddess, the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out wine offerings to her, just as our ancestors, our king and our leaders, and we used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of food, we were prosperous, and had no troubles.

¹³ ‘»»But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not live by my laws. They rejected my rules. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them in the desert and completely wipe them out.

¹⁶ ‘»»They rejected my rules. They did not live by my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, because their hearts chased disgusting idols.

²⁴ »I did this because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, profaned the Sabbath, and worshiped the same idols their ancestors had served.

¹⁶ Those who respected Jehovah spoke to one another, and Jehovah listened to what they had to say. In his presence a memorial record was written down in a book listing those who reverence Jehovah and respect (esteem) (regard) his name.

¹² »Rejoice, and be filled with joy, for great is your reward in heaven. The prophets, who came before you, were also persecuted.

³¹ »Abraham said: If they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not listen to someone from the dead.«

²⁸ He that despised Moses’ Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. ²⁹ What about those who despise the Son of God? Those who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God’s covenant that purified them from sin? Those who insult the Spirit of grace? Think how much worse the punishment they deserve will be!

⁸ Watch yourselves that you do not lose the things that we worked to produce. You may receive a full reward.

⁶ »The danger of death was around me. The grave set its trap for me. ⁷ »I called to Jehovah in my trouble. I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice. He listened to my cry for help.

⁵ The cords of the grave surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me.

³ The ropes of death became tangled around me. The fear of the grave took hold of me. I experienced pain and agony.

¹¹ I will increase your days. I will add more years to your life.

²⁷ Respect for Jehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

²⁴ The way of life leads upward for the wise. That he may depart from the grave beneath.

⁶ Sin is atoned by loving kindness and truth. Respect for Jehovah keeps one away from evil.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright departs from evil. He who guards his way preserves his life.

²² Understanding is a wellspring of life to the man who has it. But the instruction of fools is folly.

¹⁴ Jehovah helped David. He and his soldiers always won their battles. ¹⁵ Saul saw how wisely David behaved. This made him fear him. ¹⁶ Everyone in Israel and Judah loved David. He led them in and out of battle.

⁹ Your fathers tempted me, tested me, and saw my work. ¹⁰ For forty years I was grieved with this generation. I said: »It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.« ¹¹ I swore to them in my anger that they should not enter into my rest.

¹⁰ The respect and reverence for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. All who obey his commandments show good sense (insight) and understanding. His praise endures (continues) forever.

⁴ You will find kindness and understanding in the sight of God and man.

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.

³⁵ The king's favor is toward a wise servant. His anger is against the one who causes shame.

¹⁰ Correction is severe for the person who forsakes the way. He who hates reproof will die.

¹⁹ »Your own wickedness will correct you. Your apostasies (unfaithful ways) will punish you! You should know and see how evil and bitter it is for you when you abandon Jehovah your God! You do not respect (reverence) me,« says the Sovereign Lord Jehovah of Hosts.

⁵² Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

¹⁰ »And God delivered him out of all his afflictions. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and his entire house.

²¹ You are now ashamed of the fruit you had at that time. For the results of these things is death.

¹⁰ This is what he said: »Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master. There are too many of them now days. ¹¹ »What makes you think I would give you the bread and water, and the meat that I cooked for my own servants? I do not even know where you are from.«

¹⁷ »Consider what you should do because our master and his whole household are doomed. He is such a worthless man that it is useless to talk to him.«

²⁵ »You should not take this worthless person Nabal seriously. He is like his name. His name is Nabal (Godless Fool). He is foolish. But I did not see the young men you sent.

⁵ All goes well for the person who is generous and lends willingly. He earns an honest living.

²² Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah. Those who deal truly are his delight. ²³ A prudent man conceals knowledge. The heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge properly. The mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

³ When he who is a fool walks along the path, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.

¹³ My servant will act wisely. He will be raised, lifted up and highly exalted.

¹⁶ »I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

¹⁹ Your obedience has come to our attention abroad. I am glad therefore on your behalf. Yet I would have you wise to that which is good and simple concerning evil.

²⁰ Brothers, do not be like children in understanding. When it comes to evil be innocent children but in your thinking be mature adults.

¹⁷ Do not be foolish, but understand (perceive) what the will of Jehovah is.

²⁶ As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who sent him.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him. He refreshes his masters.

²³ The north wind drives away rain. So does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks violence.

¹³ »Say this about the prophets of Samaria: ‘I saw something disgusting. The prophets of Samaria prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.’ ¹⁴ »Say this about the prophets of Jerusalem: ‘I see something horrible. The prophets of Jerusalem commit adultery and live a lie. They support those who do evil so that no one turns back from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me, and those who live in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.’« ¹⁵ This is what Jehovah of Hosts says about the prophets: »I will give them wormwood to eat and poison to drink. The prophets of Jerusalem have spread godlessness throughout the land.« ¹⁶ This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: »Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you. They fill you with false hope. They speak about visions that they dreamed up. These visions are not from Jehovah.

²⁸ »The prophet who has had a dream should say it is only a dream. The prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully.« »What good is chaff compared with wheat?« Says Jehovah.

¹⁸ »When I tell a wicked man that he will surely die, but you do not warn him or speak out so that he can change his wicked way in order to save his life; that wicked man will die because of his sin. I will hold you responsible for his death.

⁷ »Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the people of Israel. Listen to what I say and warn them for me. ⁸ »Suppose I say to a wicked person, ‘You wicked person, you will certainly die.’ And you say nothing to warn him to change his ways. That wicked person will die because of his sin. I will hold you responsible for his death.

² It is required of stewards that a man is trustworthy.

¹⁷ For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God; but sincere and from God. We speak in Christ in the sight of God.

²⁰ We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making entreaty through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ that you be reconciled to God.

¹² I thank him that enabled me and counted me faithful, appointing me to his service, Christ Jesus our Lord.

² What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

⁵ A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness. It is like lotion for my head. My head will not refuse it, because my prayer is directed against evil deeds.

⁹ You will give your honor (majesty) to others and your years to the cruel one. ¹⁰ Strangers will be filled with your financial strength. Strangers will benefit from your hard work. ¹¹ You mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed. ¹² You say: »How I have hated instruction! My heart despised reproof. ¹³ »I did not obey the voice of my teachers. I did not listen to my instructors! ¹⁴ »I was very near total ruin in the midst of the congregation.«

⁹ Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning (insight).

¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. He that hates reproof is stupid.

¹³ The one who despises the word will experience bad consequences (be destroyed). He who respects the commandment will be rewarded.

³¹ The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. ³² He who refuses instruction (discipline) despises his own life. But he who listens to reproof understands.

⁶ Many ask favors of the prince. Every man is a friend of a person who gives gifts.

¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise provider to a listening ear.

³ Jehovah looks for faithfulness. He struck you, but you paid no attention. He crushed you, but you refused to learn. You were stubborn and would not turn from your sins. ⁴ I thought: »These are only the poor and ignorant. They are foolish. They do not know what their God requires, what Jehovah wants them to do. ⁵ »I will go to the great men (leaders) and talk with them. Surely they know what their God requires, what Jehovah wants them to do. But all of them have rejected Jehovah’s authority and refuse to obey him.« ⁶ That is why lions from the forest will kill them. Wolves from the desert will tear them to pieces, and leopards will prowl through their towns. If those people go out, they will be torn apart because their sins are numerous and time after time they have turned from God. ⁷ Jehovah asked: Why should I forgive the sins of my people? They have abandoned me and have worshiped gods that are not real. I fed my people until they were full, but they committed adultery and spent their time with prostitutes. ⁸ They were like well-fed stallions wild with desire, each lusting for his neighbor's wife. ⁹ »Why should I not punish the people of Judah?« Says Jehovah, »Should I take retribution (vengeance)?«

²⁵ Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven!

⁴⁸ and prayed: ‘Let us praise Jehovah the God of Israel. Today he made one of my descendants succeed me as king.’ He let me live to see it!«

²⁸ »To man he said: ‘Respect for Jehovah is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.’«

¹ ([Psalm of David]) The king finds joy in your strength, O Jehovah. What great joy he has in your salvation! ² You gave him his heart's desire. You did not refuse the prayer from his lips.

¹⁴ Turn away from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it!

²⁷ Turn away from evil, do good, and live forever.

⁷ Do not think you are wise enough. Respect Jehovah and turn away from evil.

¹² Expectation deferred makes the heart sick. When the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination (disgusting) to the righteous. He who is upright in the way is an abomination (detestable) to the wicked.

⁴ »Shortly after I passed by them, I found the one I love. I held him, and would not let him go, until I brought him to my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.’«

¹⁹ The foundation of God stands firm having this seal: »Jehovah knows those who belong to him,« and: »Everyone who names the name of Jehovah is to abstain from wickedness.«

⁷ I have fought the good fight! I have finished the course! I have kept the faith! ⁸ The crown of righteousness is laid up for me. The Lord, the righteous judge, will give it to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing (manifestation).

¹⁴ I said to him: »Sir, you know.« He said to me: »These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ »Because of this they are before the throne of God. They serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over (dwell among) them. ¹⁶ »They will hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sunlight beat down on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷ »The Lamb who is in the middle of the throne will feed them and lead them to living fountains of water. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.«

¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. ¹³ The men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against Jehovah.

¹² They also captured Lot, son of Abram’s brother, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

⁸ But he paid no attention to the opinion of the elders. He went to the young men who were his advisors:

¹⁰ His young advisors said: »This is the answer to give to the people who came to you saying: ‘Your father put a hard yoke on us; will you make it less?’ Say to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's body.’

⁴ Ahab asked Jehoshaphat: »Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?« »I am ready when you are,« Jehoshaphat answered. »And so are my soldiers and my cavalry.«

³² So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said: »Truly, this is the king of Israel.« They turned against him and surrounded him. Jehoshaphat gave a cry.

² A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: »Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovah’s anger upon you.

⁶³ I am a companion of all those who reverence you and keep your precepts.

¹¹ If they say: »Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us ambush the innocent without cause. ¹² »Let us swallow them alive and whole just as the grave does, and just as the dead go into the pit. ¹³ »We will find precious material possessions and we fill our houses with plunder. ¹⁴ »Throw in with us. Let us all have one purse.« ¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Withhold your food from their path! ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. ¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. ¹⁸ They lie in wait for their own blood (murder). They set an ambush for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust dishonest gain. Greed takes away the life of its owner.

¹² It will deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things. ¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness? ¹⁴ Who rejoice in doing evil? They delight in the perversity of the wicked. ¹⁵ The wicked are crooked. They are devious in their ways. ¹⁶ You will be able to resist any immoral woman who tries to seduce you with her smooth talk. ¹⁷ She is unfaithful to her own husband and forgets her sacred vows to God. ¹⁸ If you go to her house, you are traveling the road to death. To go there is to approach the dead. ¹⁹ No one who visits her ever comes back. He cannot return to the road to life. ²⁰ You must follow the example of good people and live a righteous life.

²² He immediately goes after her. He is like a bull that goes to the slaughter. Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, ²³ Till a dart strikes through his liver. The bird hurries to the snare without knowing it would cost his life.

²⁷ Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.

⁶ »Forsake the foolish, and live. Travel in the way of understanding.«

³¹ The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise.

⁷ (To Her Beloved) »Tell me, O you whom I love where you feed your flock and where you make it rest at noon. Why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?« ⁸ (The Beloved) »If you do not know, O you fairest among women, follow the footsteps of the flock. Feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.

⁴² They continued devoting themselves to doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

³³ Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. ³⁴ Wake up to righteousness and do not sin. Some do not have knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what communion does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? We are the temple of the living God. God said: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Leviticus 26:12) (Zechariah 8:8) ¹⁷ Therefore come out from among them and be separate (set off) (severed from them) (excluded from them), said Jehovah. Do not touch the unclean thing and I will receive you. (Isaiah 52:11) (Jeremiah 51:45) ¹⁸ I will be a Father to you, and you will be to me sons and daughters, said Jehovah God the Almighty. (Hosea 1:10)

²⁴ Let us consider one another to encourage love and good works:

⁴ I heard another voice from heaven, say: »Come out of her, my people, that you do not partake of her sins, and that you do not receive her plagues!

⁷ »If you do what is right, will not your attitude improve? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must master it.«

²³ »If you do not keep your promise, I warn you that you will be sinning against Jehovah. Do not doubt this, you will be punished for your sin.

¹⁰ Very much pain awaits wicked people, but loving-kindness and mercy surrounds those who trust Jehovah.

¹⁰ Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor. ¹¹ How horrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster will strike them. What they have done to others will be done to them.

⁴ The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul’s hand and said to one another: »This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.«

⁷ [He offers] everlasting life for those who search for incorruptible glory and honor by enduring in good works. ⁸ Those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will receive wrath and indignation. ⁹ [There will be] tribulation and distress on every person who works evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek. ¹⁰ [There will be] glory, honor and peace to every one who does good works, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

⁷ »I will establish my covenant as a long lasting covenant between us. It will be for your descendants after you, for the generations to come. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ⁸ »The whole land of Canaan, where you are now a guest (alien) (foreigner) (stranger), I will give a long lasting possession to you and your descendants after you. I will be their God.«

¹² »Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or do anything for their peace or well being for a very long time. That way you may be strong, living on the good of the land, and handing it on to your children for a heritage for as long as they live.

¹² Who is this person who respects Jehovah? He is the one whom Jehovah will teach the way he should choose. ¹³ He will enjoy good things in life, and his descendants will inherit the land.

²⁵ I have been young, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his descendants begging for food.

²⁸ »The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you.«

² His descendants will grow strong on the earth. The family of the upright will be blessed.

⁶ May you live to see your children's children. Let there be peace in Israel!

²⁶ To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

⁶ Go to the ant, you lazy person. Consider her ways and be wise! ⁷ The lowly ant has no guide or overseer. ⁸ It prepares its food in the summer and gathers food at the harvest. ⁹ How long will you sleep, O lazy person? When will you arise from your sleep? ¹⁰ »A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. ¹¹ Your poverty comes like a traveler. Your need comes like an armed man.

¹⁸ When you keep a fig tree you eat the fruit. He who waits on his master will be honored.

¹⁹ He who tills his land will have plenty of bread. He who follows after vain persons will have poverty.

⁹ A king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.

⁵ He who obeys the king’s command will feel no harm. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. ⁶ This is because to every purpose there is time and judgment. Even so man’s misery is great. ⁷ »Even storks know when it is time to return. Mourning doves, swallows (swifts), and cranes know when it is time to migrate. But my people do not know that I, Jehovah, am urging them to return. ⁸ »How can you say you are wise and that you have Jehovah’s Laws? The scribes have used their pens to spread falsehoods. ⁹ »Wise people are put to shame, confused, and trapped. They have rejected the word of Jehovah. They do not really have any wisdom. ¹⁰ »So I will give their wives to other men. I will give their fields to new owners. From the least even to the greatest everyone is greedy for gain. From the prophet even to the priest everyone is deceitful.

¹² For whom Jehovah loves He reproves, just like a father corrects the son he loves dearly. (Hebrews 12:6)

³⁶ »But he who sins against me wrongs himself. All who hate me love death.«

¹⁸ Correct your son while there is hope. Do not contribute to his death.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. The rod of discipline (instruction) will drive it far from him.

¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child. If you spank him with a stick he will not die. ¹⁴ You will spank him with a stick and deliver him from death.

¹⁵ The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁷ Correct your son, and he will give you rest. Yes, he will give you delight.

²⁶ »You who come to me may not be my disciple unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and yourself.

⁶ »Jehovah disciplines those he loves. In fact he scourges every son (child) he receives.« ⁷ God deals with you like children. Endure discipline (instruction) (training). Who is the child whom a father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are without discipline, you are illegitimate children, and not sons.

⁴⁸ »You will serve your enemies whom Jehovah will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.

²⁴ »They will be wasted by famine, and consumed by plague and bitter destruction. I will send teeth of wild animals on them, with the venom of crawling things (reptiles) of the dust.

¹⁰ Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek Jehovah’s help have all the good things they need.

³ Trust Jehovah and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

¹⁶ Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.

¹⁸ Jehovah knows the days of the blameless. Their inheritance will be forever. ¹⁹ They will not be ashamed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they will have abundance.

¹¹ Your poverty comes like a traveler. Your need comes like an armed man.

³ Jehovah will not allow the righteous to hunger. He rejects the mischief of the wicked.

³⁴ Your poverty will come like a robber and your want like an armed man.

¹³ Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame! ¹⁴ My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

¹⁰ While we were with you, we used to tell you: »Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.«

⁸ Bodily exercise is profitable for a little. However, godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of the life that is to come.

⁵ You should be free from the love of money. Be content with what you have, for he has said: »I will not leave you. I will not forsake you.«