Proverbs 15 Cross References - NSB

¹ A mild answer turns away anger. Harsh words stir up anger. ² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge properly. The mouth of fools pours out foolishness. ³ The eyes of Jehovah are in everywhere watching the evil and the good. ⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it destroys life. ⁵ A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who accepts discipline is prudent. ⁶ There is treasure in the house of the righteous. The earnings of the wicked bring trouble. ⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, the heart of the foolish does not. ⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah! The prayer of the upright is his delight. ⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah. He loves the one who follows after righteousness. ¹⁰ Correction is severe for the person who forsakes the way. He who hates reproof will die. ¹¹ The grave and destruction are before (in front of) (in the presence of) Jehovah. How much more in the hearts of men? ¹² A scoffer hates the one who reproves him. He will not go to the wise. ¹³ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. The spirit is broken by sorrow of the heart. ¹⁴ The heart of one with understanding seeks knowledge. The mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. ¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil. He who has a merry heart has a continual feast. ¹⁶ It is better to have a little with respect for Jehovah than great treasure and trouble. ¹⁷ Better is a bowel of soup where there is love, than a steak with someone you hate. ¹⁸ An angry man stirs up strife. The slow to anger calms disputes. ¹⁹ The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns. But the way of the righteous is a wide path. ²⁰ A wise son makes a father glad. A foolish man despises his mother. ²¹ Folly is joy to the destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly. ²² Without counsel plans fail. But in the multitude of counselors they are established. ²³ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken at the right time, how good it is! ²⁴ The way of life leads upward for the wise. That he may depart from the grave beneath. ²⁵ Jehovah will destroy the house of the proud and he will establish the border of the widow. ²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to Jehovah. The words of the pure are pleasant words. ²⁷ He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house. But he who hates gifts will live. ²⁸ The heart of the righteous studies how to answer. The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ²⁹ Jehovah is far from the wicked. He hears the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones healthy. 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. ³³ Respect for Jehovah teaches wisdom. Before glory there is humility.

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.

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 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.« ¹² The men returned to their camp and told David everything Nabal said. ¹³ David ordered: »Everyone get your swords!« They strapped on their swords. Two hundred men stayed behind to guard the camp. The other four hundred followed David.

²¹ David thought: »I guarded this man’s possessions in the desert for nothing! Not one of his possessions was missing. Yet, he paid me back with evil when I was good to him. ²² »May God punish me if I do not kill every one of those men before morning!« ²³ Abigail saw David and quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground. ²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: »Let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to me. 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. ²⁶ »Jehovah kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. As Jehovah lives and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal. ²⁷ »Please accept this gift from your maidservant. And give it to the young men who accompany my lord. ²⁸ »Also please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. Jehovah will certainly give you a lasting dynasty, because my lord is fighting the battles of Jehovah. Evil will not be found in you all your days. ²⁹ »Even if someone pursues you to take your life, your life is wrapped securely in the bundle (purse) (bag) of the living from Jehovah your God (God will keep you safe). He will dispose of the lives of your enemies. They will be hurled like stones from a sling. ³⁰ »When Jehovah does all the good he promised and makes you ruler of Israel, ³¹ you should not have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When Jehovah gives you success, remember me.« ³² David said to Abigail: »Blessed is Jehovah the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me. ³³ »Blessed is your good judgment and blessed are you for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts.

⁴³ The Israelites replied: »We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have! We know he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Do not forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!« The men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.

¹³ The king gave them a harsh answer. He paid no attention to the suggestion of the elders. ¹⁴ He gave them the answer suggested by the young advisors. He said: »My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder! My father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.« ¹⁵ The king did not listen to the people. This came about by Jehovah’s purpose, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be fulfilled. 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.

¹² Hatred stirs up strife. Love covers all sins.

¹⁸ An angry man stirs up strife. The slow to anger calms disputes.

¹⁵ A ruler is persuaded by patience, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

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

²² An angry man stirs up dissension. A furious man abounds in sin.

¹ Beautiful words fill my mind and stir my heart, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a skilful writer (copyist) my tongue is ready with a poem.

⁷ See what pours out of their mouths, swords from their lips! They think: Who will hear us?

²³ A prudent man conceals knowledge. The heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

¹⁶ Every prudent man acts with knowledge. A fool displays his folly.

²³ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken at the right time, how good it is!

²⁸ The heart of the righteous studies how to answer. The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

²³ The heart of the wise teaches his mouth. It adds learning to his lips.

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

¹² The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. The result of his talk is mischievous madness.

⁴ The Lord Jehovah will teach me what to say, so I will know how to encourage tired people. Morning after morning he will wake me to listen like a student.

⁹ »The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength (shows His strength) to (in behalf of) those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.«

⁴ »Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

²¹ »God's eyes are on a person's ways. He sees all his steps. ²² There is no darkness or deep shadow where troublemakers can hide.

²¹ The ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah. He ponders all his paths.

¹⁷ »I see everything that they do. They cannot hide anything from me. Their wickedness cannot be hidden; I can see it.

²⁴ »Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?« asks Jehovah. »Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?« Declares Jehovah.

¹⁹ »You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. You give to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. All things are uncovered and laid bare before him. We must account to him. (Romans 2:16; 14:12)

²² Jehovah said: »The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.« ²³ Therefore Jehovah God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. ²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

² Your tongue makes up wickedness. It is like a sharp razor, you master of deceit. ³ You prefer evil to good. You prefer lying to speaking the truth. ⁴ You love words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

²² I am oppressed and needy. I feel pain in my heart.

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

¹⁸ There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword. The tongue of the wise brings a cure.

²⁴ Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweetness to life, and health to the bones.

⁸ The words of a talebearer cause wounds. They plunge down to the innermost parts.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness. So who can tolerate a wounded spirit?

²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts.

² »The sun of righteousness with it’s healing will shine on you who respect my name and obey me. You will be free and paw the ground like fat calves.«

³ If any man teaches a different doctrine, and does not consent to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine that is according to godliness,

⁷ »'He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the (Paradise) Garden of God.'

²³ So he said to them: »Why do you do such things? I hear of your evil dealings by all the people. ²⁴ »No, my sons. It is not a good report that I hear. You make Jehovah’s people transgress. 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 Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself. He had an escort of fifty men to run ahead of him. ² He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from, ³ Absalom would say: »My friend, the law is on your side. However, there is no representative of the king to hear your case.« ⁴ He added: »How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me. I would give him justice.« ⁵ The man would approach Absalom and bow down before him. Then Absalom would reach out and hug and kiss him. ⁶ Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. That way he won their loyalty.

¹¹ »Now, my son, Jehovah is with you, and may you have success and build the house of Jehovah your God, as he said you would. ¹² »May Jehovah give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of Jehovah your God. ¹³ »You will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that Jehovah gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

⁹ »You my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve Jehovah wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought we have. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. On the other hand if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.

²⁰ David also told his son Solomon: Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do no be afraid or terrified. Jehovah God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you until all the work on Jehovah’s Temple is finished.

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.

²³ »Listen when I reprove you. I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

²³ For the commandment is a lamp. The law is light. Reproofs for instruction are the way of life.

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

¹ A wise son heeds his father's instruction (discipline). A scoffer does not listen to discipline (reproof).

¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to all who reject discipline. He who accepts reproof will be honored.

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.

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

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

¹³ This testimony is true. For this cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

¹⁵ Speak and exhort and reprove these things with all authority. Let no man despise you.

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. ²³ »With his belly full, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him.

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

³ Wealth and riches will be in his home. His righteousness continues forever.

²¹ »I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

²² The blessing of Jehovah makes rich and he adds no grief to it.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The wealth of the sinner is preserved for the righteous.

¹⁶ It is better to have a little with respect for Jehovah than great treasure and trouble.

⁸ Better to be poor with righteousness than rich with injustice.

²⁰ The wise have wealth and luxury but a fool spends all he gets.

⁶ One hand full of quietness is better than two hands full of trouble and striving after wind.

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with gain. This too is vanity. ¹¹ When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to see them? ¹² The sleep of the workingman is pleasant, whether he eats little or much. However the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. ¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun. I have seen riches being hoarded by their owner to his downfall (distress). ¹⁴ When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he fathered a son, then there was no support for him.

²⁶ He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. He looked intently (respectfully) for the payment of the reward.

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.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.

² You are the most handsome of men. You are an eloquent speaker. God has blessed you forever.

¹³ I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners will turn to you. ¹⁴ Rescue (deliver) me from the bloodguilt of murder O God of my salvation. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness! ¹⁵ O Jehovah, open my lips (help me speak), and my mouth will speak your praise.

¹⁵ All day long my mouth will tell of your righteousness and of your salvation. I do not know the number. ¹⁶ I will come with the mighty deeds of Jehovah God. I will make mention of your righteousness, yours alone. ¹⁷ O God, You taught me from my youth, and I still declare your wondrous deeds. ¹⁸ And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation, your power to all who are to come.

² I will open my mouth in an illustration. I will utter dark sayings of old, ³ That we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. ⁴ We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength and his wondrous works that he has done. ⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel. This he commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, ⁶ That the generation to come might know, the children to be born, that they may arise and tell to their children,

¹³ With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of your mouth.

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked has little worth. ²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many. Fools die for lack of understanding.

⁹ Moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. He gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words. That which was written was upright, even words of truth.

¹¹ »Your lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under your tongue; and the smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

²⁷ »The things I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. Proclaim everything you hear from on top of the house.

³⁴ »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

¹⁸ Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying: »All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ »Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ »Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.«

¹⁵ He said to them, »Go into the entire world, and preach the good news to the whole creation.

⁹ The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision: »Do not be afraid, but speak. Do not keep silent! ¹⁰ »I am with you and no man will harm you. I have many people in this city.«

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ How will they preach unless they have been sent? Just as it is written: »How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace and who bring good tidings of good things! For they proclaim salvation and say to Zion: »Your God reigns as king!« (Hebrew: Elohiym’ malak’: God rules!) (Isaiah 52:7) ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the good news. For Isaiah says: »Jehovah, who has believed our message?« (Isaiah 53:1) ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word about Christ.

¹⁸ I will not dare to speak of any of those things that Christ has not accomplished through me. I will lead the nations to obey God in word and deed. ¹⁹ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. From Jerusalem, and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ. ²⁰ I have strived to preach the good news, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: ²¹ It is written, »To whom he was not announced, they shall see: and those who have not heard shall understand.« (Isaiah 52:15)

²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth. Speak what is good for understanding as the need may be, that it may give grace (divine favor) to those who hear.

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

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).

¹⁷ »I well know, O my God, that you test everyone’s heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you. I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Hear my plea for justice, O Jehovah. Pay attention to my cry. Open your ears to my prayer, spoken without deceit.

²⁹ Jehovah is far from the wicked. He hears the prayer of the righteous.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination! How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?

⁹ The prayer of the person who will not listen to the law is disgusting.

¹ Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.

¹⁴ »O my dove, you are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs. Let me see your countenance. Let me hear your voice. For sweet is your voice, and your countenance is lovely.«

¹⁰ Listen to the word of Jehovah (YHWH), you rulers of Sodom! Pay attention to the Law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! ¹¹ Jehovah says: »What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I have had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. ¹² »Who requires you to trample on my courtyards when you appear in my presence? ¹³ »Do not bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me! So are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I cannot endure your evil assemblies! ¹⁴ »I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals. They are a burden to me. I am tired of putting up with them. ¹⁵ »When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are full of blood.

⁸ »For I, Jehovah, love justice. I hate robbery in the burnt offering. Therefore I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.

³ »Whoever kills a bull is like someone who kills a person. Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog's neck. Whoever offers a grain sacrifice is like someone who offers pig's blood. Whoever burns incense is like someone who worships an idol. People have certainly chosen their own ways, and they delight in detestable things.

²⁰ »What purpose does frankincense come to me from Sheba and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.«

²¹ Thus says Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel: »Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. ²² »For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. ²³ »‘I gave them this command: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. You will walk in all the way that I command you that it may be well with you.’«

²¹ »I hate, I despise (reject) your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. ²² »Yes, even if you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them. Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

²⁴ »God is a Spirit. They who worship him must worship him with spirit and truth.«

⁶ Jehovah knows (is fully aware of) the way of the righteous. But the way of the wicked will perish.

⁸ Jehovah opens the eyes of the blind. Jehovah raises up those who are bowed down. Jehovah loves the righteous. ⁹ Jehovah protects the strangers. He supports the fatherless and the widow, but he overthrows the way of the wicked.

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

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart, and the arrogance and pride produced by the wicked are sin.

⁸ The guilty travel a crooked path. The pure walk on a straight road.

²¹ He who pursues righteousness and love find life, prosperity and honor.

⁷ The path of the righteous is level. O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

¹ »Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek Jehovah. Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug out.

⁷ »Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts. Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.

⁴ »‘I kept sending you my servants the prophets, who told you not to do this terrible thing that I hate.

³ »Let us get to know Jehovah! Let us press on (run after) (follow) to get to know him. As surely as the sun rises he will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.«

¹³ Your eyes are too pure to look at evil. You cannot look at perversity. Why do you look at treacherous persons and not act? Why do you keep quiet when the wicked destroy the man who is more righteous?

¹³ »Enter through the narrow gate, since the gate to destruction is wide and the road that leads to destruction is wide and many enter through it.

¹¹ But you, O man of God, run from these things. Pursue (set your heart on) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.

²² Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a clean heart.

¹⁷ Ahab saw Elijah. He said: »Is it you, Israel’s troublemaker?«

²⁰ Ahab said to Elijah: »Have you come face to face with me, O my enemy?« Elijah said: »I have come to you because you have given yourself up to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah.«

⁸ Ahab answered: »There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, always something bad.« »The king should not say such things!« Jehoshaphat replied.

³⁰ »You rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you.

¹² You say: »How I have hated instruction! My heart despised reproof.

¹⁷ He who regards instruction is in the way of life. He who refuses reproof goes (mentally and morally) astray.

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

³⁵ »They struck me but I did not become sick. They beat me and I did not feel it. When will I awake? I will seek drink yet again.«

⁵ Why do you still want to be beaten? Why do you continue to rebel? Your whole head is infected. Your whole heart is sick. ⁶ From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head there is no healthy spot left on your body. You have only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds. They have not been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.

¹³ ‘»In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you, yet you are not clean. You will not be cleansed from your filthiness again until I have spent my anger on you. ¹⁴ ‘»I, Jehovah, have spoken. It is coming and I will act. I will not relent, and I will not pity and I will not be sorry! I will judge you according to your ways and according to your deeds.’ This is a declaration of the Lord Jehovah.«

²⁰ »Every one who does evil hates the light. He does not come to the light because his works would be reproved.

⁷ »The world has no reason to hate you. But it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.

⁷ But Jehovah said to Samuel: »Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart (inner man).«

³⁰ »Hear them in heaven, where you live. Forgive them and give people the proper reply. You know what is in their hearts, because you alone can read hearts.

⁶ »The grave is naked before God, and destruction has no covering.

⁹ Let the evil of the wicked come to an end. Establish the righteous, you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.

²¹ would God not find out, since he knows the secrets in our hearts?

⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the grave, behold, you are there.

²⁰ The grave and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

¹⁰ »I, Jehovah, search the heart and examine the mind (inner man). I give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.

²⁴ Jesus did not trust his security to them for he understood all men. ²⁵ He did not need evidence about men for he knew what was in man.

¹⁷ The third time Jesus said to him: »Simon, son of John, do you have affection for me?« Peter was grieved. Because he said to him the third time, do you have affection for me? Peter replied: »Lord, you know all things; you know I have affection for you!« Jesus said to him: »Feed my sheep.«

¹⁸ »I am alive! I was dead and, behold, I am alive forever, Amen. I have the keys of death and the grave.

²³ »'I will kill her children with deadly plague. Then all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds. I will reward each of you for what you have done.

⁷ Ahab answered: »There is one more. He is Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me. It is always something bad.« Jehoshaphat replied: »You should not say that.«

¹⁴ »They say to God: ‘Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.’

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.

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

¹⁰ You hate the one who reproves in the gate, and abhor him who speaks the truth (with integrity).

¹⁸ »He who has an active faith in him is not judged. He who does not have an active faith has been judged already for he has not had faith in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ »This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. People loved the darkness rather than the light for their works were evil. ²⁰ »Every one who does evil hates the light. He does not come to the light because his works would be reproved. ²¹ »He who practices the truth comes to the light. His works are made known that they are from God.«

³ For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine. Having their ears tickled, they will accumulate teachers who follow after their own lusts.

² The king said to me: »Why is your face sad, seeing that you are not ill? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.« Then I was full of fear.

²⁵ Anxiety in the heart of man make it heavy, but a good word makes it glad.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil. He who has a merry heart has a continual feast.

²² A merry heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

¹ »Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

¹² This is our pride and testimony of conscience. In holiness and Godly sincerity we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. It was not by fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God.

⁷ To the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excess sorrow.

¹⁰ For godly sorrow works repentance leading to salvation. This is a repentance that brings no regret: but the sorrow of the world works death.

⁶ Solomon answered: »You always showed great love for my father David, your servant. He was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. You have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place. ⁷ »O Jehovah God, you allowed me to succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and do not know how to rule. ⁸ »I am among the people you have chosen to be your own. They are a people who are so many that they cannot be counted. ⁹ ‘Give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice. Help me know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?« ¹⁰ Jehovah was pleased that Solomon asked for this. ¹¹ He said to him: »Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies, ¹² »I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had. There has never been nor will ever be anyone like you.

⁹⁷ O How I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged, since I have observed your precepts.

⁵ A wise man will hear and will increase learning. A man of understanding will procure wise counsel.

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

¹⁵ The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge. The ear of the wise one searches for knowledge.

¹⁰ They say to the seers: »Do not see the future.« They say to those who have visions: ‘Do not have visions that tell us what is right. Tell us what we want to hear. Prophesy illusions.

²⁰ They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They cannot rescue themselves or ask themselves: »Is what I hold in my right hand a false god?«

¹ »The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind and try to chase the east wind all day. They are very dishonest, violent and destructive. They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt.

¹¹ The Bereans were nobler than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with all readiness of mind and examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul told them was true.

¹⁸ Grow in the unmerited favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

³⁵ All his sons and daughters came to comfort him. However, he refused to be comforted. He said: »I will go down to the grave still mourning for my son.« So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.

⁹ Jacob answered: »My life of wandering has lasted a hundred and thirty years. Those years have been few and difficult, unlike the long years of my ancestors in their wanderings.«

⁷ Your anger consumes us. We are troubled by your rage. ⁸ You set our sins in front of you. You put our secret sins in the light of your presence. ⁹ Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury. We live out our years like one long sigh.

¹³ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. The spirit is broken by sorrow of the heart.

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

²⁵ Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight. The prisoners were listening to them.

² We have access to grace (God’s favor) by faith through him. This is where we stand. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we also rejoice in our tribulations knowing that tribulation produces endurance.

¹¹ We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (restoration) (atonement) (divine favor).

¹² Rejoice in hope! Be patient in tribulation. Continue in prayer.

⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.

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

⁶ You greatly rejoice in this, though you have been grieved with various trials for a little while. ⁷ The proof of your faith is more precious than gold that perishes. Though it is tested by fire, it may be found in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ You love him without seeing him. Though you do not see him, you believe in him. Full of glory, you rejoice greatly with indescribable joy.

¹³ As much as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

⁶ Better is the poor man who walks in uprightness, than the rich man who is perverse in his ways.

¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold joy from my heart. My heart took pleasure in all my work and this was my reward. ¹¹ I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun.

¹⁸ I hated all the work I had done under the sun, because I would leave it behind for the man who comes after me. ¹⁹ Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? But he will have power over all the work that I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This too is vanity. ²⁰ My heart turned to grief over all for which I had labored and all my wisdom under the sun. ²¹ Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand. But one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² What does a man get for all his work, and for the desire of his heart with which he has done his work under the sun? ²³ All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is vanity.

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with gain. This too is vanity. ¹¹ When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to see them? ¹² The sleep of the workingman is pleasant, whether he eats little or much. However the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

⁶ Godliness with contentment is great gain.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! ² It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. ³ It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing. It is life forever.

¹ Better is dry bread in peace than a house full of feasting with discord.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell alone in the wilderness than with an angry contentious (quarreling and angry) woman.

⁴ »Again he sent out other servants with orders to say to the guests, ‘I have prepared my feast. Oxen and fat livestock are butchered and everything is ready, so come to the feast.’

²³ »‘Get the prize calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast!

¹ If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender affection (tender mercy) and compassions,

¹⁶ We know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love! He who continues with love lives with God and God lives with him.

⁸ Abram said to Lot: »Let us not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. ⁹ »Is not the whole land before you? Let us part company. If you go to the left, I will go to the right. If you go to the right, I will go to the left.«

²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: »Let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to me. 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. ²⁶ »Jehovah kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. As Jehovah lives and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal. ²⁷ »Please accept this gift from your maidservant. And give it to the young men who accompany my lord. ²⁸ »Also please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. Jehovah will certainly give you a lasting dynasty, because my lord is fighting the battles of Jehovah. Evil will not be found in you all your days. ²⁹ »Even if someone pursues you to take your life, your life is wrapped securely in the bundle (purse) (bag) of the living from Jehovah your God (God will keep you safe). He will dispose of the lives of your enemies. They will be hurled like stones from a sling. ³⁰ »When Jehovah does all the good he promised and makes you ruler of Israel, ³¹ you should not have a troubled conscience because you spilled blood for no good reason and claimed your own victory. When Jehovah gives you success, remember me.« ³² David said to Abigail: »Blessed is Jehovah the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me. ³³ »Blessed is your good judgment and blessed are you for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts. ³⁴ »I solemnly promise as Jehovah the God of Israel lives that if you had not come to meet me Nabal would not have had one of his men alive at dawn.« ³⁵ Then David accepted what she brought him. He said: »Go home in peace. I have listened to what you said and I grant your request.« ³⁶ When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a king’s banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she did not tell him anything until dawn. ³⁷ In the morning after the effects of the wine wore off his wife told him what had happened. Nabal had a stroke. He could not move. ³⁸ Ten days later Jehovah made him sicker and Nabal died. ³⁹ David heard Nabal was dead. He said: »Blessed is Jehovah who defended me against the insults of Nabal. He kept me from doing wrong. Jehovah has turned Nabal’s own wickedness back on him.« David sent men on his behalf to propose marriage to Abigail. ⁴⁰ David’s servants approached Abigail at Carmel. They told her: »David sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife.« ⁴¹ She bowed down with her face touching the ground. »I am ready to serve,« she said. »I am willing to wash the feet of my master’s servants.« ⁴² Abigail quickly got up and rode on a donkey with five of her female servants following her. So she went with David’s messengers and became his wife. ⁴³ Earlier David married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. Now both she and Abigail were David’s wives. ⁴⁴ Meanwhile, Saul arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.

⁴³ The Israelites replied: »We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have! We know he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Do not forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!« The men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding. He who is short tempered exalts foolishness.

¹ A mild answer turns away anger. Harsh words stir up anger.

²⁸ A perverse man sows discord. A whisperer separates good friends.

²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle disputes.

⁴ If the temper of the ruler rises up against you do not withdraw from him for gentleness can put a stop to great offenses.

⁹ »Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

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,

¹⁹ You know this, my beloved brothers. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. ²⁰ The anger of man does not promote the righteousness of God.

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 All the Israelite congregation raised their voices and cried out loud all that night. ² They complained to Moses and Aaron: »If only we had died in Egypt or in this desert! ³ »Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land? Is it just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?«

⁷ They said to the entire congregation of Israel: »The land we explored is very good. ⁸ »If Jehovah is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. ⁹ »Do not rebel against Jehovah. Do not be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. Jehovah is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them. Do not be afraid.«

⁸ O Jehovah, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight in my presence.

⁸ Jehovah is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live. ⁹ He leads humble people to do what is right, and he teaches them his way.

¹² Who is this person who respects Jehovah? He is the one whom Jehovah will teach the way he should choose.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Jehovah. Lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge (recognize) Him and He will make your paths straight.

⁹ »They are all straight talk to him who understands. It is proper to those who find knowledge.

⁵ Thorns and snares are in the way of the wicked. He who guards his life will stay far away from them.

¹³ The lazy man says: »There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets.«

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

²¹ You will hear a voice behind you say: »This is the way. Walk in it,« whether it turns to the right or to the left.

⁸ There will be a highway there, called: »The Road of Holiness.« No sinner will ever travel that road. No fools will mislead those who follow it.

¹⁴ »‘One will say: ‘Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way; Take the stumbling block out of the way of my people.’«

¹² »Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land Jehovah your God gives you.

³ »‘Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of worship. I am Jehovah your God!

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!«

⁹ »However you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do. You must make sure he is put to death.«

⁷ Hiram was extremely pleased when he received Solomon's message. He said: »Praise Jehovah today for giving David such a wise son to succeed him as king of the great nation of Israel!«

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will also rejoice! ¹⁶ Yes, my inmost being rejoices when you speak right things.

²² Listen to your father who gave you life. Do not despise your mother when she is old.

³ He who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice. But he who keeps company with fornicators wastes his wealth.

¹⁷ The eye that mocks his father, and rejects obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.

²² But you know of his proven worth. It was like a son with his father that he served with me to further the good news.

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

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.

²³ It is like sport to a fool to do mischief. A man of understanding has wisdom.

¹² He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

⁹ Fools mock at sin, but among the righteous there is good will.

¹⁶ A wise man is cautious and departs from evil. But the fool is arrogant and careless.

¹⁸ This is like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows, and death. ¹⁹ So is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says: »I was only joking.«

¹⁵ Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are from meekness because of wisdom.

¹⁴ The people fall where there is no counsel. Yes, the people fall but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

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

⁶ This is because to every purpose there is time and judgment. Even so man’s misery is great.

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.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They love the man who speaks what is right.

²⁶ He kisses the lips that give the right answer.

¹ For everything there is a season. There is a time for every purpose under the sun.

¹¹ You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. It is pleasant to be at your right hand forever.

²⁴ See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

¹⁸ If you go to her house, you are traveling the road to death. To go there is to approach the dead.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of the grave.

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

⁸ Correct a scoffer (mocker) (scorner) and he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

¹⁴ You will spank him with a stick and deliver him from death.

⁸ »Also say to this people, ‘Jehovah says: »Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

¹⁴ »Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way to life. Only a few put forth the effort. Yes, only a few people enter the narrow gate.

⁶ Jesus proclaimed: »I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through me.

²⁰ However, our citizenship is in heaven. We also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹ If you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Think about the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

¹⁷ »Jehovah your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords! He is the great, the powerful, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. ¹⁸ »He executes justice for the orphan and the widow. He shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.

¹⁴ »Do not move your neighbor's boundary mark. The ancestors have set this in your inheritance. You will inherit this in the land Jehovah your God gives you to possess.

¹¹ »Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low! ¹² »Look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. ¹³ »Bury them all in the dust together and shroud their faces in the grave.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Why do you brag about the evil you have done, O mighty man? The loving kindness of God endures continually!

⁵ God will destroy you forever. He will remove you from your dwelling place from out of the land of the living.

⁵ In his holy habitation God is a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows. ⁶ God sets the lonely in families. He frees the prisoners who are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

⁶ Even though Jehovah is high above, he sees humble people close up, and he recognizes arrogant people from a distance.

⁹ Jehovah protects the strangers. He supports the fatherless and the widow, but he overthrows the way of the wicked.

⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are no more. The house of the righteous will stand.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be overthrown. But the tabernacle of the upright will flourish.

¹⁰ Do not remove the old landmark (boundry). And do not enter the field of the fatherless.

¹² All who are proud will be humbled. Jehovah of Hosts will have his day against all who are arrogant and conceited.

²⁰ »But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened with pride he dealt proudly. He was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him:

²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for the fatherless persons and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.

⁵ Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the older men. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and serve one another. God resists the proud, but gives loving kindness to the humble.

¹⁴ May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer (Purchaser).

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart. His steps do not waver (slip).

¹⁶ Jehovah hates these six things: Yes, seven are an abomination to him: ¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run quickly to badness, ¹⁹ A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brothers.

⁹ The thought of foolishness is sin. The mocker is an abomination to men.

¹⁴ »O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart so that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you?

³⁴ »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ »The good man performs good things out of his good treasure. The evil man performs evil things out of his evil treasure. 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.«

¹⁹ »Evil thoughts come from the heart! Thoughts about murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying, and slander come from the heart!

²¹ »You should choose capable men from all the people. Find men who respect God. These must be men you can trust who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

⁸ »Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes the discerning blind to what is right and perverts the words of the righteous.

²⁶ »Do not bring an abomination into your house. You must utterly detest it and you must utterly abhor it, for it is something banned.«

¹⁹ »Never pervert justice. Always be impartial. Never take a bribe, because bribes blind wise people and deny justice to those who are in the right.

¹⁸ »You people must stay away from anything devoted to destruction. You should not take things from the city. You will cause trouble for the camp of Israel is you take of the accursed things.

¹¹ »Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things and put them in their own possessions. ¹² »Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies. They ran from their enemies, because they were accursed. I will not be with you any more until you destroy the devoted things you have among you.

²⁴ And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. ²⁵ Joshua said: »Why have you troubled us? Jehovah will trouble you this day.« All Israel stoned them with stones. After they stoned them they burned them with fire.

³ The sons did not follow their father’s example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice. ⁴ One day the nation’s elders came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said: »You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!«

²⁷ »Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation!« When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust dishonest gain. Greed takes away the life of its owner.

¹⁹ Righteousness leads to life and he that pursues evil participates in his own death.

²⁹ He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind. The fool will serve the wise of heart.

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

¹⁶ The ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor. He who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

⁴ The king establishes the land by justice. He who receives gifts overthrows it.

⁸ Cursed are those who are joining house to house, and putting field to field, till there is no more living-space for any but themselves in all the land! ⁹ With my own ears I heard Jehovah of Hosts say: »Many houses will become empty. Large, beautiful houses will be without people to live in them. ¹⁰ »A ten-acre vineyard will produce only six gallons of wine, and two quarts of seed will produce only four quarts of grain.«

¹⁵ He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil. ¹⁶ This man will dwell on the heights. His refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and he will have water.

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.«

⁹ »He who receives a dishonest profit for his house will have trouble. He may set his nest on high in order to be delivered from the hand of evil! ¹⁰ »You have purposed a shameful thing for your house. You have sinned against yourself by destroying many people. ¹¹ »The stones will cry out from the wall. The beams out of the woodwork will answer it.

³ He continued: »This is the curse that is upon the land. Every one who steals will be acquitted. Every one who swears falsely will be innocent.« ⁴ »I will cause it to happen,« said Jehovah of Hosts, »and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of he who swears falsely by my name. The curse will abide in the midst of his house and will consume it with the timber and the stones of the house.«

²³ King Solomon said: »Each of you claims that the living child is hers and that the dead child belongs to the other one.« ²⁴ He sent for a sword. When it arrived, ²⁵ he said: »Cut the living child in two and give each woman half of it.« ²⁶ With a heart full of love for her son the real mother said: »Please, Your Majesty, do not kill the child! Give it to her!« But the other woman said: »Do not give it to either of us cut it in two.« ²⁷ Then Solomon said: »Do not kill the child! Give it to the first woman. She is the real mother.« ²⁸ The people of Israel heard of Solomon's decision and were all filled with deep respect for him. They knew then that God had given him the wisdom to settle disputes fairly.

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

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

¹¹ A fool loses his temper. But a wise man holds it back.

²⁰ See a man quick to talk? There is more hope for a fool then for him.

² Do not be in a hurry to talk. Do not be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

⁶ Do not let your speech cause you to sin. Do not say to the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

¹² The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. ¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. The result of his talk is mischievous madness. ¹⁴ A fool also is full of words. A man cannot predict what will be and what will be after him. Who can tell him?

¹⁰ There are many unruly (rebellious) men, vain talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. ¹¹ They must be stopped. Their mouths must be shut up, for they subvert entire households. They teach things that should not be taught, for the sake of dishonest gain.

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.

¹⁵ Sanctify the Christ as Lord (kurios: master) in your hearts. Always be ready to answer every man who asks you a reason for your hope, yet with meekness (mildness) and respect!

¹⁸ For, uttering arrogant words of vanity, they entice in the desires (lusts) of the flesh, by sensuality (lasciviousness), those who are just escaping from the ones who live in error.

¹ Why are you so distant, Jehovah? Why do you hide in times of trouble?

⁴¹ They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to Jehovah, but he did not answer them.

¹⁵ Jehovah’s eyes watch over righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help. ¹⁶ Jehovah confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. ¹⁷ Righteous people cry out. Jehovah hears and rescues them from all their troubles.

¹⁸ If I had thought about doing anything sinful, Jehovah would not have listened to me. ¹⁹ But God has heard me. He paid attention to my prayer.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

¹⁸ Jehovah is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. ¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who reverence him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah! The prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁸ »My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,« declares Jehovah. ⁹ »As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

⁴⁶ »These will go away into ever-burning fire (everlasting cutting off) (death) (total destruction) (doom) (punishment) (everlasting penalty), but the righteous to everlasting life.’«

³¹ »We know that God does not listen to sinners. If any man respects God and does his will, God listens to him.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. We do not know what we should pray for, as we should. The Spirit [of God] makes intercession with groaning that cannot be spoken. ²⁷ So he who searches the hearts knows what is the inclination (purpose) (mind-set) of the Spirit [of God], because the Spirit makes intercession for the holy ones according to the will of God.

¹² You were separate from Christ at that time, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. You were strangers from the covenants of the promise. You had no hope and were without God in the world. ¹³ You were once far off but now with Christ Jesus, the blood of Christ has brought you near.

¹⁶ Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man helps much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man of like passions with us. He prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. ¹⁸ He prayed again; and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

¹² The eyes of Jehovah (God) are upon the righteous. His ears hear their prayers. But the face (person) of Jehovah is against those who do evil.

⁸ »Now for a little time grace (favour) has come to us from Jehovah our God, to let a small band of us go free and to give us a nail in his holy place. Our God gives light to our eyes and a measure of new life in our prison chains.

¹⁵ How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Jehovah, they walk in the light of your countenance.

⁸ This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²⁵ As cold waters to a thirsty man, so is good news from a far country.

⁷ Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun.

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.

¹⁰ The angel spoke to them: »Do not be afraid. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy to all the people. ¹¹ »Christ (Messiah) the Lord, a Savior, is born this day in the city of David. ¹² »This is the sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.« ¹³ Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying: ¹⁴ »Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth among men with whom he is pleased.« ¹⁵ The angels went away from them into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, »Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which God told us about.« ¹⁶ They hurried to see the baby. They found Mary and Joseph. And they saw the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷ As soon as they saw it they told what they had heard about the child. ¹⁸ All that heard it wondered at the things that were spoken to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ Mary remembered all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

²³ The city did not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God and of the Lamb was its light.

⁵ There will be no night there. They need no lamp, neither light of the sun, for Jehovah God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

⁸ Correct a scoffer (mocker) (scorner) and he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning (insight).

²⁰ The one who walks with wise men will be wise. A companion of fools will be destroyed.

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

³ Give ear and come to me; listen to me, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

³ »You are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ »Remain with me, and I with you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. It must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain with me.

¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us. If they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they went out that it made it plain that they all are not of us.

¹⁸ »If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not listen or obey his father or his mother when they chastise him,

²⁰ »They shall say to the elders of his city: This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious! He will not obey us! He is a glutton and a drunkard.

¹⁷ »You hate discipline. You cast (throw) my words behind you.

⁷ Respect for Jehovah (YHWH) is the beginning of knowledge (truth) (understanding) (wisdom). Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

²⁴ »I called you! I stretched out my hand to you. You paid no attention to me. ²⁵ »You have ignored all my counsel. You accept no correction. ²⁶ »I also will laugh at your trouble. I will mock when your fear comes. ²⁷ »Trouble and distress will surround you like a whirlwind, like a great storm. ²⁸ »You will ask for my help, but I will not listen. You will search, but you will not find me. ²⁹ »You have no use for knowledge and you refuse to respect Jehovah. 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. ³² »Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to stupid fools. ³³ »Whoever listens to me will be secure and will be free from the fear of evil.«

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!

³³ »Hear instruction, do not refuse it and be wise. ³⁴ »Blessed is the man who listens to me. He watches daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. ³⁵ »Those who find me find life. They will receive favor from Jehovah. ³⁶ »But he who sins against me wrongs himself. All who hate me love death.«

¹⁴ The heart of one with understanding seeks knowledge. The mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

²¹ Folly is joy to the destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

¹⁶ Is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom? He has no sense!

¹ He who is often reprimanded and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

⁵ Why do you still want to be beaten? Why do you continue to rebel? Your whole head is infected. Your whole heart is sick.

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.

²⁴ »Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock. ²⁵ »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall. It was built on a solid rock foundation. ²⁶ »Every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. ²⁷ »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house and it fell with a great crash.«

¹⁵ See that no one misses the grace of God; that no bitter root spring up to cause trouble and defile many.

²² Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, who deceive themselves.

¹⁹ »'I reprove and discipline those whom I love: be zealous therefore, and repent.

¹¹ Come, you sons, listen to me. I will teach you the respect of Jehovah.

¹³ »Respect for Jehovah means to hate evil. I hate: pride, and arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

¹² Before destruction the heart of man is prideful. Humility comes before honor and glory.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men. ⁷ Better that he says: »Come up here than you be put down in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.«

²³ A man's pride will bring him low. The humble in spirit retain honor.

¹¹ »Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. And people who humble themselves will be exalted.«

⁵ Have this attitude (mind-set) (understanding) (mental state) in you that was also in Christ Jesus. ⁶ He existed in the form (shape and nature) of God but did not try to be equal with God. He did not even consider it! ⁷ He emptied (humbled) himself by taking the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men. ⁸ He obtained the appearance as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient even to death, yes, death on the stake. ⁹ For this reason God highly exalted him, and gave to him the name that is above every name, (Relative authority given by Jehovah God, the Father to His Son) (Philipians 2:11) ¹⁰ that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of God, and he will exalt you.