Proverbs 19 Cross References - NSB

¹ Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. ² It is not good to be a person without knowledge. He who hurries often misses the way. ³ Man ruins his life by his own foolishness. His heart chafes with anger against Jehovah. ⁴ Wealth makes many friends but poverty drives them away. ⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished. The liar will not escape. ⁶ Many ask favors of the prince. Every man is a friend of a person who gives gifts. ⁷ The brothers of the poor hate him. His friends leave him. He pursues them with words but they do not listen! ⁸ He who acquires wisdom loves life. He who guards understanding finds good. ⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished and the liar will perish. ¹⁰ Delight is not the custom of a fool much less for a servant to rule over princes. ¹¹ The discretion of a man defers anger. It is his glory to overlook a transgression. ¹² The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion but his favor is like dew upon the grass. ¹³ A foolish son is a disgrace to his father. A contentious wife is like drips from a leaky roof. ¹⁴ Real estate and riches are the inheritance of fathers. A prudent (wise) (sensible) wife is from Jehovah. ¹⁵ Laziness propels one into a deep sleep. An idle person will suffer hunger. ¹⁶ He who obeys the commandment saves his life. But he who is careless of his ways will die. ¹⁷ When you help the poor (needy) (lowly) (depressed) you lend to Jehovah. He will pay you back. ¹⁸ Correct your son while there is hope. Do not contribute to his death. ¹⁹ A man of great anger will suffer punishment. Rescue him once and then do it again. ²⁰ Listen to counsel and accept instruction (discipline), that you may be wise in the future. ²¹ Many intentions are in men’s hearts. Only counsel from Jehovah will stand. ²² Kindness is desired in a man. A poor man is better than a liar. ²³ Respect for Jehovah leads to life. He who has it will be satisfied. He will not be visited by evil. ²⁴ A lazy man hides his hand in the dish and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. ²⁵ Strike a scoffer and the simple will be wary. Reprove someone who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. ²⁶ He who assaults his father and chases away his mother is a shameful and disgraceful son. ²⁷ Stop listening to instruction (discipline) (correction), my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. ²⁸ An ungodly witness scorns judgment. The mouth of the wicked devours evil. ²⁹ Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the back of fools.

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.

¹¹ As for me, I walk in my integrity. Redeem (ransom) (rescue) me, and show me favor.

²⁶ He is always generous and lends freely. His descendants are a blessing.

²⁶ The righteous is a guide to his neighbor. The way of the wicked leads others astray.

² He who walks in uprightness respects Jehovah. He who is perverse in his ways despises him.

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.

²² Kindness is desired in a man. A poor man is better than a liar.

⁷ The righteous man walks in his integrity. He blesses his children.

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

³ Your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers are desecrated with sin. You speak lies, and you mutter wicked things.

³¹ »Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against God’s Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² »Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. ³³ »Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. The fruit a tree produces provides its reputation. ³⁴ »You offspring of vipers. How can you who are evil speak good things? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

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?

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? ⁶ You have dishonored the poor man. Do the rich oppress you, and personally drag you into court?

⁵ »If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many. Fools die for lack of understanding.

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

⁵ The ideas of the diligent tend only to abundance. But of the one who is hasty it leads to poverty.

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

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.

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

⁹ Do not be quick in your spirit (mind) (figurative heart) to be angry. Anger rests in the bosom of fools.

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.

¹¹ When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For they have no understanding (discernment). Their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

¹⁶ Therefore this is what The Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: »Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. It is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you! You will not be a priest to me since you have forgotten the Law of your God. Therefore, I will forget your children.

³ »But they do these things because they do not know the Father or me.

² I testify that they have zeal for God, but not according to [precise and correct] knowledge.

⁹ I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened. They realized they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. ⁸ The man and his wife heard the sound (voice) of Jehovah God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day. They hid from Jehovah, among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But Jehovah God called to the man: »Where are you?« ¹⁰ He (Adam) answered: »I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.« ¹¹ And he said: »Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?« ¹² Adam said: »The woman you put here with me gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.«

⁵ He did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was downcast (he had a bad attitude). ⁶ Jehovah said to Cain: »Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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.« ⁸ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Jehovah asked Cain: »Where is your brother Abel?« »I do not know,« he replied. »Am I my brother’s keeper?« ¹⁰ Jehovah said: »What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood (life) cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ »Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² »When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer (vagabond) on the earth.« ¹³ Cain said to Jehovah: »My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴ »You are driving me from the land today. I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless (homeless) wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me.«

¹⁹ Korah assembled all his followers who opposed Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The glory of Jehovah appeared to the entire group. ²⁰ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: ²¹ »Move away from these men. I will destroy them instantly.« ²² Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said: »O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation?« ²³ Then Jehovah said to Moses: ²⁴ »Tell the congregation: ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’« ²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ He said to the congregation: »Move away from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you’ll be swept away because of all their sins.« ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram came out and were standing at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children. ²⁸ Moses said: »This is how you will know that Jehovah sent me to do all these things and that it wasn’t my idea: ²⁹ »If these men die a natural death like all other people Jehovah has not sent me. ³⁰ »But if Jehovah does something totally new, if the ground opens up, swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to their graves; then you will know that these men have treated Jehovah with contempt.« ³¹ When he finished speaking, the ground under them split, ³² and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property. ³³ They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them. They disappeared from the assembly. ³⁴ All the Israelites around them ran away when they heard their screams. They thought the ground would swallow them, also. ³⁵ Fire came from Jehovah and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense. ³⁶ Then Jehovah said to Moses: ³⁷ »Tell Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, to take the incense burners out of the fire and scatter the coals and incense somewhere else. This is because the incense burners have become holy. ³⁸ »The incense burners of these men who sinned and lost their lives are holy, because they were offered to Jehovah. Hammer them into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. This will be a sign to the Israelites.« ³⁹ The priest Eleazar took the copper incense burners that had been brought by those who had been burned to death. The incense burners were then hammered into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. ⁴⁰ He followed Jehovah’s command given through Moses. The copper-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron may come near to burn incense to Jehovah. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers. ⁴¹ The next day the whole congregation of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron. They said: »You have killed Jehovah’s people.«

¹² The Israelites said to Moses: Now we are going to die! We will perish! We are all lost! ¹³ Anyone who comes near Jehovah’s tent will die! Are we all going to die?

¹³ »You did a foolish thing,« Samuel told Saul. »You did not follow the command of Jehovah your God. If you had, Jehovah would have established your kingdom over Israel from generation to generation (for a very long time).

²³ »The sin of divination is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. They are evil. Because you rejected the word of Jehovah, he rejects you as king.«

¹³ Saul asked him: »Why did you and Jesse’s son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You even prayed to God that he could rise up against me and ambush me, as he is doing now.« ¹⁴ Ahimelech asked the king: »But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he is your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He is honored in your own household. ¹⁵ »Is this the first time I have prayed to God for him? Not at all! You should not blame my family or me for this. I knew nothing at all about this.« ¹⁶ The king said: »Ahimelech, you and your entire family are going to die.« ¹⁷ The king said to the guards who were attending him: »Turn around and kill the priests of Jehovah! They are also with David. They knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me. But the servants of the king were not willing to lift a hand to attack the priests of Jehovah.« ¹⁸ The king said to Doeg: »You turn around and attack the priests.« Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. ¹⁹ He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using his sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep. ²⁰ Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son had one son who escaped. His name was Abiathar. He fled to David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul killed Jehovah’s priests. ²² David told Abiathar: »I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family. ²³ »Stay with me. Do not be afraid. The one who is seeking my life is also seeking your life. You will be under my protection.«

⁴² He said to him: »These are the words of Jehovah: ‘Because you have let go from your hands the man whom I had put to the curse, your life will be taken for his life, and your people for his people.’« ⁴³ Then the king of Israel went back to his house, bitter and angry, he went to Samaria.

⁹ King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom assembled. After marching seven days, they ran out of water. There was none left for the men or the pack animals. ¹⁰ »Alas, all is done,« King Joram exclaimed. »Has Jehovah called us together to be at the mercy of the king of Moab?«

³³ While Elisha was still talking the king arrived and said: »Jehovah brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something?«

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.« ¹⁰ Asa was so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains. It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Do not be bothered by evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked things.

⁷ Surrender to Jehovah and wait patiently for him. Do not be preoccupied with an evildoer who succeeds in his way when he carries out his schemes.

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

²¹ They will pass through the land when they are hard-pressed (destressed) and hungry. When they are hungry, they will be furious. Then they will look up and curse their king and God. ²² They will look toward the nations of the earth and see only distress and gloom. They will go in anguish and be banished into darkness.

⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with envy. They spoke against those things Paul spoke. They contradicted and blasphemed him. ⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas became very bold, and said: »It was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken to you. But seeing you reject it you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life! Therefore we turn to the people of the nations.

⁹ Men were scorched with great heat. They blasphemed the name of God, who has power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. ¹⁰ Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became full of darkness. And they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹ They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains, but they did not repent.

¹⁵ »But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow ¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, ¹⁷ but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanishes from their channels. ¹⁸ »Caravans turn aside from their routes. They go into the wasteland and perish. ¹⁹ »The caravans of Tema look for water. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope and wait in vain. ²⁰ »They are distressed! They were once confident. They arrive there, only to be disappointed. ²¹ »Now you too have proved to be of no help. You see something dreadful and are afraid. ²² »Have I ever said: Give something on my behalf; pay a ransom for me from your wealth, ²³ deliver me from the hand of the enemy, ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless’?

¹³ »My brothers stay far away from me. My friends are complete strangers to me. ¹⁴ »My relatives and my closest friends have stopped coming. My houseguests have forgotten me. ¹⁵ »My female slaves consider me to be a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them. ¹⁶ »I call my slave, but he does not answer, even when I beg him. ¹⁷ »I am repulsive to my wife and my children think I stink.

¹⁵ The rich man's wealth is his strength. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

²⁰ The poor is hated by his neighbor, but the rich have many friends.

⁶ Many ask favors of the prince. Every man is a friend of a person who gives gifts. ⁷ The brothers of the poor hate him. His friends leave him. He pursues them with words but they do not listen!

¹³ »In a short time the younger son sold his share of the property. He left home with the money and traveled to a far away country where he wasted his money in reckless living. ¹⁴ »He spent everything! When a famine spread over that country he was left with nothing. ¹⁵ »He went to work for a citizen of that country who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs.

¹ »Do not spread false rumors. Do not help a guilty person by offering false testimony.

¹¹ »‘Do not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain. Jehovah will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain.

¹⁶ »This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime. ¹⁷ »The two people involved must stand in Jehovah’s presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time. ¹⁸ »The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite, ¹⁹ do to him what he planned to do to the other person. Get rid of this evil. ²⁰ »When other people hear about this, they will be afraid. Never again will such an evil thing be done among you. ²¹ »Have no pity on him: Take a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

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

³ You deceitful tongue, what can Jehovah give you? What more can he do for you? ⁴ He will give you a warrior's sharpened arrows and red-hot coals.

¹⁹ A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brothers.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished and the liar will perish.

²⁸ A false witness will perish, but the man who hears the truth will speak forever.

²⁴ The king commanded that the men that accused Daniel and had him thrown into the den of lions be thrown into the den of lions. They cast them into the den of lions, their children, and their wives; and the lions killed them and broke their bones in pieces before they reached the bottom of the den.

²⁰ »Be sure to say, ‘Jacob is right behind us.’« He thought: »I will make peace with him by giving him this gift that I am sending ahead of me. After that, I will see him, and he will welcome me back.«

⁶ As governor of the country, Joseph was selling grain to everyone. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground.

¹⁵ So the brothers took the gifts and twice as much money, and set out for Egypt with Benjamin. There they presented themselves to Joseph.

¹⁹ He said: »I beg you not to punish me! Please forget what I did when you left Jerusalem. Do not even think about it. ²⁰ »I know I was wrong and have sinned. That is why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you.« ²¹ But Abishai shouted: »You should be killed for cursing Jehovah’s chosen king!« ²² David exclaimed: »Abishai, what will I do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I have been made king of all Israel today. No one will be put to death!« ²³ David promised Shimei that he would not be killed. ²⁴ Mephibosheth grandson of Saul also came to meet David. He missed David so much that he did not take a bath or trim his beard or wash his clothes the whole time David was gone. ²⁵ They returned to Jerusalem. Mephibosheth came to see David. David asked him: »Why did you not go with me?« ²⁶ He answered: »Your Majesty, you know I cannot walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me. ²⁷ »He told you lies about me. My lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what you think is right. ²⁸ »You could have killed anyone in my entire family. Instead you seated me with those who eat at your table. I no longer have the right to complain to my lord the king.« ²⁹ The king asked him: »Why do you keep talking about it? I said you and Ziba should divide the land.« ³⁰ »Let him take it all,« Mephibosheth told the king. »It is enough for me that you have come home safely.« ³¹ Barzillai, the man from Gilead, came from Rogelim with the king to the Jordan River to send him on his way. ³² Barzillai was a very old man. He was eighty years old. He was very rich. He supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim. ³³ The king said to him: »Come with me to Jerusalem. I will take care of you.« ³⁴ Barzillai answered: »I do not have long to live. Why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem? ³⁵ »I am already eighty years old. Nothing gives me pleasure any more. I cannot taste what I eat and drink. I cannot hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to my lord the king. ³⁶ »I will cross the river with you. But I will only go a little way on the other side. You do not have to be so kind to me. ³⁷ »Please let me return to my hometown. There I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you. You can treat him as your own.« ³⁸ David said: »I will take Chimham with me. Whatever you ask me to do for him, I will do. If you want anything else I will do it.« ³⁹ David’s soldiers went across the river. He stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home.

²⁴ »I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not extinguish the light of my countenance. ²⁵ »I chose their way, and sat as chief. I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.

¹² The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift. The rich among the people will seek your favor.

¹⁵ The light of the king's face causes life. His favor is like a gentle rain in spring.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes its owner. He prospers in everything he does.

¹⁶ A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

¹² The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion but his favor is like dew upon the grass.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifies anger. A bribe behind the back provokes strong anger.

²⁶ Many seek favor from the ruler; but every man's judgment comes from Jehovah.

¹¹ They entered the house and saw the young child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and paid him homage. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹¹ My loved ones and my friends keep their distance and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness.

⁸ You have taken my friends far away from me. You made me disgusting to them. I am shut in, and I cannot get out.

¹⁸ You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me. Darkness is my only friend!

²³ The poor man requests and the rich man answers out of greed.

⁴ Wealth makes many friends but poverty drives them away.

¹³ Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry, but will not be heard.

¹⁵ Now there was found in it a poor wise man. By his wisdom he delivered the city. Yet no man remembered that same poor man. ¹⁶ Then I said: »Wisdom is better than strength.« Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

³⁸ He cried out: »Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!« ³⁹ They rebuked him and said he should keep quiet. But he cried out even more: »You son of David, have mercy on me!« ⁴⁰ Jesus commanded that he be brought to him. When he was near he spoke to him.

⁶ You have dishonored the poor man. Do the rich oppress you, and personally drag you into court?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and in lack of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them: »Go in peace, be warmed and filled;« and yet you do not give them food and clothing, what good is it?

¹⁷ Whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? ¹⁸ My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

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

¹ My son, take my words to heart and treasure my commandments within you. 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.

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

²¹ My son, do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion!

⁴ Father taught me. He said: »Remember my words in your heart. Obey my commandments and live.

⁶ »Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe.

²¹ Do not let them leave your sight. Hold them in the midst of your heart!

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.«

²⁰ He who handles a matter wisely will find good. Trust in Jehovah and be happy.

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

¹⁸ It is pleasant that you keep them within you. They will be firmly established on you lips.

²⁶ »I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts.

²⁵ »He that loves his life [in this world] loses it; and he that detests (does not love) his life in this world shall save it for everlasting life.

²¹ »He that has my commandments, and obeys them loves me. My Father will love the person who loves me. I will love him and disclose myself to him.«

¹⁰ Whoever would love life and see good days should keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished. The liar will not escape.

¹⁵ Elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail. ¹⁶ Those who led this people led them astray. And those who were led by them were left in confusion. ¹⁷ That is why Jehovah did not rejoice in their young people, nor show compassion to their orphans and widows. Everyone was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke wickedness (foolishness) (vileness). In all this his anger has not turned away. His hand is stretched out still (ready to apply his power).

²⁵ »I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in my name. They say: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!« ²⁶ »How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets, who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart? ²⁷ »They think the dreams they tell will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name and turned to Baal worship. 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. ²⁹ »My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces. ³⁰ »I am against those prophets who take each other's words and proclaim them as my message.« ³¹ »I am also against those prophets,« says Jehovah, »They speak their own words and claim they came from me!« ³² »Listen to what I, Jehovah, say! I am against the prophets who tell their dreams that are full of lies. They tell these dreams and lead my people astray with their lies and their boasting. I did not send them or order them to go. They are of no help at all to the people. I Jehovah have spoken!«

¹⁵ Then Jeremiah the prophet told the prophet Hananiah: »Listen, Hananiah! Jehovah did not send you. You are making these people believe a lie. ¹⁶ »Because of this, Jehovah says: ‘I am going to get rid of you. Before this year is over you will die because you have told the people to rebel against Jehovah.’« ¹⁷ Hananiah died in the seventh month of that same year.

³¹ »Send this message to all the captives. This is what Jehovah says about Shemaiah from Nehelam: »Shemaiah prophesied to you, but I did not send him. He has made you believe a lie. ³² »Jehovah says: ‘I will punish Shemaiah from Nehelam. I will also punish his descendants. No one from his family will be left alive. He will not see the blessings that I am going to send my people,’ declares Jehovah, ‘because he has encouraged rebellion against Jehovah.’«’«

²² ‘»You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I had not brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives.

⁸ Then the evil (lawless) one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will put him to death with the breath of his mouth, and destroy him by the manifestation (brightness) (advent) (revelation) of his coming. (Greek: parousia: presence, return, being near) ⁹ The evil (lawless) one will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false signs and wonders. ¹⁰ He will use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.

¹ The Spirit explicitly says that some will fall away from the faith (truth) in later times. Spirits and doctrines of demons will seduce them, ² through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.

¹ There arose false prophets among the people. There will be false teachers among you! They will privately bring in destructive heresies (contrary doctrines), denying even the Master who bought them. They bring swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their lascivious (filthy sensual) deeds. The way of the truth will be maligned. ³ They speak evil words about you because of their extreme greed. They will exploit you with false evil words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle. Their destruction will not delay.

²⁰ The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet that performed signs before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

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.«

¹⁵ »'Outside are the dogs (impure men) and those who practice spiritism, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who tells lies.'

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.

²⁴ Joab went to the king and asked: »What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you send him away? ²⁵ »Surely you know that he came to deceive you. He came to find out everything you do and everywhere you go.«

³⁹ »Today, even though I am the anointed king, these men, Zeruiah’s sons, are too strong for me to control. May Jehovah repay these wicked men, as their evil deed deserves.«

¹⁵ The runners went out quickly with the king's order. A public statement was made in Shushan. The king and Haman took wine together, but the town of Shushan was troubled.

⁷ Excellent speech does not fit a fool; much less do lying lips a prince.

¹ Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor does not become a fool.

²¹ Under three things the earth is disquieted, and for four it cannot bear: ²² For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with food;

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun. It is like an error that proceeds from the ruler. ⁶ Craziness is set in many exalted places, and the rich sit in low places. ⁷ I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

⁵ People will oppress each other. Everyone will harass his neighbor. The young will tyrannize the old. The common people will taunt their superiors.

¹¹ How horrible it will be for those who get up early in the morning to look for a drink and who sit up late at night until they are drunk from wine. ¹² At their feasts there are lyres and harps, tambourines and flutes, and wine. Yet, they do not pay attention to what Jehovah is doing or respect what his hands have done.

¹² In that day Jehovah God of Hosts called to weeping and mourning, to baldness and putting on sackcloth. ¹³ Instead there was joy and festivity, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. »Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.« ¹⁴ Jehovah of Hosts has disclosed himself in my ears: »Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,« says Jehovah of Hosts.

³ »They make kings happy with the wicked things they do. They make officials happy with the lies they tell. ⁴ »They all commit adultery. They are like a heated oven, an oven so hot that a baker does not have to fan its flames when he makes bread. ⁵ »On the day of the king's celebration, the officials become drunk from the heat of wine, and the king joins mockers.

¹ »O Israel, do not rejoice. Do not celebrate as pagan nations do. You have been unfaithful to your God. You have sold sex on every threshing floor.

³ »You put far away the evil day and cause the place of violence to come near. ⁴ »You lie on beds of ivory, and stretch on couches. You eat the the best lambs out of the flock and the fattest calves out of the stall. ⁵ »You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David you improvise on musical instruments. ⁶ »You drink wine in bowls, and anoint yourselves with the finest oils. But you are not grieved because of the affliction of Joseph.

¹⁹ »A rich man dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day.

²³ »He was in great torment in the grave (hades). He looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side.

⁹ Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

¹⁵ After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers said to each other: »What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?« ¹⁶ Thus they sent word to Joseph, saying: »Your father gave us orders before his death. He said, ¹⁷ »‘You are to say to Joseph: »Let the wrongdoing of your brothers be overlooked, and the evil they did to you. If it is your pleasure, forgive the sin of the servants of your father’s God.«’« Upon hearing these words Joseph was overcome with weeping. ¹⁸ Then his brothers also came and immediately bowed down in front of him. »We are your slaves!« they said. ¹⁹ Joseph replied to them: »Do not be afraid! I cannot take God’s place. ²⁰ »Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive, as he is doing now. ²¹ »You have nothing to fear. I will take care of you and your children.« So he reassured them with kind words that touched their hearts.

¹⁶ A fool's anger is instantly known. A prudent man conceals shame.

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

³² Being slow to anger is better than being mighty. Being self-controlled is better than ruling a city.

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

³ It is an honor for a man to cease from discord. Only fools start quarrels.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

⁴⁴ »I say love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ »You will then act as true children of your Father in heaven. He gives sunlight to both evil and good people. He sends rain for the just and the unjust.

²¹ Peter came to him and said: »Lord, How many times may my brother do wrong against me, and I forgive him? Seven times?« ²² Jesus said to him: »Not seven times; but seventy times seven.

¹⁸ When it is possible, be peaceable with all men. ¹⁹ Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves, instead leave room for divine punishment, for it is written: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah. (Deuteronomy 32:35) ²⁰ Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹ Do not be evil, but overcome evil with good.

³² You should be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also forgave you through (by means of) Christ.

¹² As God’s chosen, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness (humility), meekness (mildness), and long-suffering (patience). ¹³ Tolerate (endure) (suffer) (put up with) one another, and forgive each other. If any man has a complaint against anyone, forgive them, even as God forgave you.

¹⁹ You know this, my beloved brothers. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

⁴ »‘He is like the sun shining on a cloudless day. The sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.

⁸ Then the king came back from the garden into the room where they had been drinking. Haman was stretched out on the seat where Esther was. Then the king said: »Is he taking the queen by force before my eyes in my house?« While the words were on the king's lips, they put a cloth over Haman's face.

⁶ He will come down like rain on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.

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.

¹⁴ Anger from a king is the messenger of death, but a wise man will placate it. ¹⁵ The light of the king's face causes life. His favor is like a gentle rain in spring.

² Fear of a king is like the roar of a lion. Provoke him to anger and sin against yourself.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the helpless people.

⁴ There is power (authority) in the word of a king. Who may ask him: »What are you doing?«

¹² This caused the king to be angry. In fact he became furious! He commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. ¹³ So the decree was delivered. The wise men were to be executed. They searched for Daniel and his companions to execute them.

¹⁹ Nebuchadnezzar was furious. The expression on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than its required heat. ²⁰ He commanded the mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ Then these men were bound in their coats, caps and their other garments. They were thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace. ²² Because of the urgency of the king's commandment and the exceeding hot furnace, the flame of the fire killed the men who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³ These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the blazing furnace.

¹⁹ »Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he chose he killed and whom he chose he kept alive. Whom he chose he raised up, and whom he chose he put down.

⁵ »I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

⁷ »Like dew from Jehovah the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples. It will be like showers upon the grass that do not wait for man or for sons of men.

⁴ »I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can do no more. ⁵ »I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has power to destroy you (throw into the ever-burning trash fires of the valley of Hinnom) (Greek: Gehenna). This is one you should fear.

¹ David had a beautiful daughter named Tamar. She was Absalom’s sister. She was also the half sister of Amnon. Amnon fell in love with her. ² Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick. ³ Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab usually knew how to get what he wanted. ⁴ Jonadab said to Amnon: »You are the king’s son. Even so day after day I see you looking sad. What is the problem?« Amnon answered: »I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my half brother Absalom.« ⁵ Jonadab said: »Pretend that you are sick and go to bed. When your father comes to see you, say to him: ‘Please ask my sister Tamar to come and feed me. I want her to fix the food here where I can see her. Then she can serve it to me.’« ⁶ So Amnon went to bed and pretended that he was sick. King David went to see him. Amnon said: »Please have Tamar come and make a few cakes here where I can see her. Then she can serve them to me.« ⁷ David sent word to Tamar at the palace: »Go to Amnon’s house and fix him some food.« ⁸ She went there and found him in bed. She prepared dough and made some cakes there where he could see her. Then she baked the cakes. ⁹ Tamar emptied them out of the pan for him to eat. But he refused to eat. He said: Send everyone away. So they all left. ¹⁰ He said to her: »Bring the cakes here to my bed and serve them to me.« She took the cakes and went over to him. ¹¹ She offered them to him. He grabbed her and said: »Come to bed with me!« ¹² She said: »No! Do not force me to do this disgraceful thing. It is evil. ¹³ »How could I ever hold up my head in public again? And you, you would be completely disgraced in Israel. Please speak to the king. I am sure he will give me to you.« ¹⁴ Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. He grabbed his sister and raped her. ¹⁵ After that Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he felt for her. »Get out of here,« he told her. ¹⁶ She said: »No, You do a greater wrong by sending me away than the other thing you did to me!« He would not listen to her. ¹⁷ He called his servant and said: »Throw this woman out and lock the door!« ¹⁸ The servant forced her to leave. He locked the door behind her. The king’s unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves.

¹⁹ as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man’s hope.

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

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

²¹ He who gives birth to a fool does it to his sorrow because the father of a fool has no joy.

²⁵ A foolish (stupid) son is a grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

⁹ It is better to dwell on the corner of the roof than to share the house with a contentious (combative) woman.

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

²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share the house with a contentious woman.

¹⁵ Continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

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.

⁷ »Jehovah, the God of heaven, took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth. He spoke to me and swore to me. He said: I will give this land to your descendants. He will send his angel before you. You will take a wife for my son from there.

¹ Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and told him: »Do not marry a Canaanite. ² »Go to Mesopotamia instead, to the home of your grandfather Bethuel. Marry one of the young women there, one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. ³ »Almighty God will bless your marriage and give you many children. You will become the father of many nations! ⁴ »He will bless you and your descendants as he blessed Abraham. You may take possession of this land, in which you have lived and which God gave to Abraham!«

¹⁶ »The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife.

²³ So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah said to Moses. Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions, by their tribes. The land rested from war.

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

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

²² The man who finds a wife finds a good thing. He obtains favor from Jehovah.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? For her value is far above corals. ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her. He will have no lack of gain. ¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³ She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants' ships for she brings her food from afar. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She fortifies herself with strength and strengthens her arms. ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night. ¹⁹ She stretches her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰ She stretches out her hand to the poor. Yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household. All her household is clothed with scarlet. ²² She makes herself coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes fine linen and sells it. She supplies sashes for the merchants. ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing. She will rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness (she speaks kind things). ²⁷ She watches over her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done well, but you are above them all. ³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain. But a woman who respects Jehovah will be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands. Let her own works praise her in the gates.

¹⁴ Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you. I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you. The children should not provide for the parents, but the parents for the children.

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights (truth and spiritual purity), with whom there is no variation. He does not change like shifting shadows.

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.

⁴ He becomes poor who deals with a lazy hand. The hand of the diligent makes rich. ⁵ He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps at the harvest is a son who causes shame.

²⁴ A lazy man hides his hand in the dish and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.

²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

³³ »Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.«

¹⁰ Israel’s watchmen are blind. They all lack knowledge they are all mute dogs. They cannot bark. They just lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

¹¹ You know the time. It is the hour for you to awake from sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we became believers. ¹² The night is far along and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

¹⁴ For this reason it says: »Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.«

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

¹⁸ It is to those who keep his covenant, and to those who remember to do his commandments.

¹ My son, do not forget my law. Let your heart obey my commandments.

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

³² He who refuses instruction (discipline) despises his own life. But he who listens to reproof understands.

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

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

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

¹⁸ Where there is no vision the people perish. The one who obeys the law is happy.

⁵ He who obeys the king’s command will feel no harm. A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

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.’«

⁵ »‘They heard the sound of the horn but ignored its warning. In that case they are responsible for their own deaths. If they had taken the warning they would have saved themselves.

²⁸ He told him: »You answered correctly, do this and you will live.«

²⁸ He replied: »More blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.«

¹⁵ »If you love me, you will keep (obey) my commandments!

²¹ »He that has my commandments, and obeys them loves me. My Father will love the person who loves me. I will love him and disclose myself to him.« ²² Judas (not Iscariot) asked him: »Lord, what will happen that you will disclose yourself to us, and not to the world?« ²³ Jesus answered: »If a man loves me, he will obey my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and dwell with him.

¹⁰ »If you obey my commandments you will remain in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ »I spoke these things in order that my joy may continue with you and your joy may be made full. ¹² »This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. ¹³ »No man has greater love then this that a man lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ »You are my friends if you do the things that I command you.

¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Obey the commandments of God.

³ We know that we know him, when we obey his commandments. ⁴ He who says: I know him, and does not obey his commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him.

²² Whatever we ask we receive from Him because we obey His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

³ For this is the love of God, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

¹⁴ »'Blessed are those who obey his commandments. They have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.

⁷ »This is what you must do whenever there are poor Israelites in one of your cities in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you. ⁸ »Be generous to these poor people. Freely lend them as much as they need. Never be hardhearted and stingy with them. ⁹ »When the seventh year, the year when payments on debts are canceled, is near, you might be stingy toward poor Israelites and give them nothing. Be careful not to think these worthless thoughts. The poor will complain to Jehovah about you, and you will be condemned for your sin. ¹⁰ »Give the poor what they need, because then Jehovah will make you successful in everything you do. ¹¹ »There will always be some Israelites who are poor and needy. That is why I am commanding you to be generous with them. ¹² »If you buy Israelites (your own brothers) as slaves, you must set them free after six years. ¹³ »Do not send him away empty handed when you set him free. ¹⁴ »Supply him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat. Give to him as Jehovah your God has blessed you.

⁶ »For doing such a cruel thing he should pay back four times for the lamb he took, for he had no compassion.«

²⁴ There is one who scatters, and yet increases. There is one who withholds what is due and it leads to poverty. ²⁵ The liberal person will prosper. He who waters will be watered.

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.

²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins. He who has mercy on the poor is happy.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker. He who honors his Maker has mercy for the poor.

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

²⁷ He who gives to the poor will not lack. But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

¹ Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

⁷ »Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house? When you see the naked, should you cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ »Your light will break out like the dawn. Your recovery will speedily spring forth. Your righteousness will go before you and the glory of Jehovah will be your rear guard. ⁹ »‘Then you will call, and Jehovah will answer! You will cry and he will say: ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will be like midday. 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.

⁴¹ »Anyone who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Anyone who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² »And whoever gives a drink of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will not lose his reward.«

⁴⁰ »The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.’

³⁸ »Give and it shall be given to you. You will receive a good measure. It will be pressed down, shaken together, running over and they will give it to you. For with the measure that you measure out it will be measured to you also.«

⁶ He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. ⁷ Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ God is able to make all grace abound toward you. You have plenty of everything you need and should abound in every good work.

¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that adds to your account.

¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous (unjust) to forget your work and the love you showed for his name. You ministered to the holy ones and continue to minister.

²⁴ He who spares the rod (authority) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines (instructs) him promptly.

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.

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. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a few days for their own pleasure. He disciplines for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

³⁰ Saul got angry with Jonathan and he said, »You are Son of a crooked and rebellious woman Jonathan! I know you have sided with Jesse’s son, Saul accused. You have no shame. You act as if you are your mother’s son not mine. ³¹ »As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Send some men to bring him to me. He is a dead man!«

⁷ He said to his officials: »Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers? ⁸ »All of you are plotting against me. No one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse’s son. No one felt sorry for me. And no one informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he is doing now.« ⁹ Doeg from Edom, standing with Saul’s officials, answered him: »I saw Jesse’s son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, in Nob. ¹⁰ »Ahimelech prayed to Jehovah for David. He gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.« ¹¹ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub’s and his entire family who were the priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. ¹² Saul said: »Listen here, son of Ahitub!« He responded: »Here I am lord.«

¹⁷ He said: »David, you are a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness when I was cruel to you. ¹⁸ »You have shown me how you were kind enough not to kill me when Jehovah gave you the chance. ¹⁹ »You would not let me live if you were my enemy. I pray that Jehovah will reward you for what you did today. ²⁰ »I know now you will be the next king. You will be a powerful king too. ²¹ »Promise me with Jehovah as your witness, that you will not destroy my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.« ²² David promised and Saul went home. David and his men returned to their hideout.

²¹ »My servant David,« Saul said, »I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again. You valued my life today. I have acted like a fool. I made a terrible mistake.« ²² David answered: »Here is the king’s spear. Have one of your soldiers come and get it.« ²³ »Jehovah put you in my power today. But you are his chosen king. I would not harm you. Jehovah rewards the righteous and faithful. ²⁴ »I valued and saved your life today. I pray that you will value and save my life and that Jehovah will deliver me out of tribulation.« ²⁵ Saul said: »David, my son, I pray that Jehovah will bless you and make you successful!« Saul went back home. David also left.

⁵ King David arrived at Bahurim. A man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. ⁶ Shimei threw stones at David and his officials. This was in spite of the fact that his men and his bodyguards surrounded David.

²⁴ Do not befriend an angry man. Do not associate with a man who throws fits. ²⁵ If you do you will learn his ways and you will become trapped.

²⁸ He who cannot control his own spirit (life) is as helpless as a city without walls, open to trouble.

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

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.’«

¹⁶ »He fed you in the desert with manna. Your fathers had never seen this. He did this in order to humble you and test you. But he also did this so that things would go well for you in the end.

²⁹ They fail to see why they were defeated. They cannot understand what happened.

³⁷ Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright. His future will be filled with peace.

¹² Teach us to number each of our days so that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.

¹⁴ Satisfy us every morning with your loving kindness so that we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days.

⁸ My son, listen to the instruction of your father. Do not forsake the law of your mother.

¹ Listen my sons to what your father teaches you. Pay attention and gain understanding.

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.

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. He who listens to counsel is wise.

¹⁹ »A rich man dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day. ²⁰ »A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, used to be brought to the rich man’s door. ²¹ »He hoped he could eat the bits of food that fell from the rich man’s table. Then the dogs would come and lick his sores. ²² »The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man died and was buried. ²³ »He was in great torment in the grave (hades). He looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side.

¹⁹ They said to one another: »Look, here comes the hero of those dreams! ²⁰ »Let us kill him and throw him into a water pit. We can say that some wild animal ate him. Then we will see what happens to those dreams.«

⁴ »Please come closer to me,« Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. He said: »I am Joseph, the brother you sold into slavery in Egypt! ⁵ »Dear brothers, do not be sad or angry with yourselves that you sold me. God sent me ahead of you to save lives. ⁶ »The famine has been in the land for two years. There will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. ⁷ »God sent me ahead of you to make sure that you would have descendants on the earth, and to save your lives in an amazing way. ⁸ »It was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me lord over his entire household, and ruler of Egypt.

²⁰ »Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive, as he is doing now.

²⁵ But when the business was put before the king, he gave orders by letters that the evil design that he had made against the Jews was to be turned against him. That he and his sons were to be put to death by hanging.

¹³ »But he is unchangeable and who can turn him? He does what he wants to do.

¹¹ Even though they scheme and devise evil against you, they will not succeed.

¹⁰ Jehovah nullifies the counsel of the nations. He frustrates the plans of the peoples. ¹¹ The counsel of Jehovah and the plans of his heart stand from generation to generation, forever.

⁴ They say: »Come and let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.«

² A good man obtains favor from Jehovah. He will condemn a man of wicked intentions.

¹ Preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue, is from Jehovah.

⁹ A man's heart determines his way. Jehovah directs his steps.

¹ Jehovah controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. He turns it where ever he wishes.

³⁰ There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah!

²⁹ »You see! I have found only this, that God made man upright. But they have sought out many devices (schemes) (reasonings).«

⁶ »‘»Let us invade Judah. Let us tear it apart and divide it among us. Let us make the son of Tabeel king over Judah.« ⁷ »‘This is what the Lord Jehovah says: »It will not take place! It will not happen!

²⁴ Jehovah of Hosts has sworn an oath: »What I have intended (devised) will happen. What I have determined to do will be done.

²⁶ This is my purpose (plan) (advise) for the world, and my arm (extended power) is stretched out to punish the nations. ²⁷ Jehovah of Hosts is determined to do this. He has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.

¹⁰ »I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing. He does according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. None can stop him, or say to him: ‘What do you do?’

²⁴ »In time of security he will come even upon the richest places of the province. He will do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers. He will scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance. He will devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. ²⁵ »He will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army. The king of the south will war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army, but he will not stand. This is because they will devise schemes against him.

⁴ All of them, using deceit, worked together to capture Jesus and kill him. ⁵ They insisted: »Not during the feast; it could start a riot among the people.«

⁶³ They said: »Sir, we remember while he was yet alive, the deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’« ⁶⁴ »Command the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise his disciples could come and steal him away. They could say to the people. ‘He is risen from the dead.’ The last deception will be worse than the first.«

²⁷ Truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the people of the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you have anointed. ²⁸ »They were there to do the things your hand and council foreordained to occur.

³⁸ »I tell you: Leave these men alone. If this message and this work are from men it will come to nothing. ³⁹ »But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it; otherwise you may find yourselves fighting against God.«

¹¹ We were assigned as heirs predetermined according to his purpose. He works all things according to his direction and will.

¹⁷ When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this to offer encouragement so we may rely on the hope offered to us. We have taken refuge in that hope and it is impossible for God to lie. These two things can never be changed.

⁸ It is a stone that people stumble over, and a large rock that people find offensive. They stumble because they are disobedient to the word. To this end they were appointed.

⁴ Certain men crept in unnoticed. They were appointed long ago for this condemnation. These ungodly men turned the grace of our God into loose conduct. They deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

² »I have made every effort to prepare materials for the Temple: gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, precious stones and gems, stones for mosaics, and quantities of marble. ³ »Over and above all this that I have provided, I have given silver and gold from my personal property because of my love for God’s Temple.

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.

⁸ »However, Jehovah said to my father David: Since you had your heart set on building a Temple for my name, your intentions were good.

¹⁵ »But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow

⁵ »Whoever turns in friends to get their property should have his children's eyesight fail.

⁹ Common people are only a vapor in the wind. Important people are only a delusion. When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing. They are less than a vapor in the wind.

¹ Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.

⁴¹ He sat down near the collection boxes and observed how the crowd dropped money into the boxes. Many that were rich dropped in much. ⁴² A poor widow came along and dropped in two mites. ⁴³ He told his disciples: »Truly I tell you this poor widow gave more then all the others who gave to the collection box. ⁴⁴ »They all gave out of their surplus. She gave out of her poverty. She gave all that she owned, all her living.«

⁶ Jesus said: »Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She did a good thing to me. ⁷ »You always have the poor with you and you can do them good. You do not always have me. ⁸ »She did what she could! She anointed my body beforehand for burying.

² Out of severe affliction they have an abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounds in the riches of their generosity. ³ For according to their ability, I bear witness, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord.

¹² For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.

² It is in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal.

⁹ The reverence of Jehovah is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of Jehovah are true. They are completely fair.

¹³ He will enjoy good things in life, and his descendants will inherit the land.

¹⁸ Remember, the eye of Jehovah is on those who respect him, on those who hope for his loving-kindness. ¹⁹ It is on those who deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

⁹ Respect Jehovah, you holy people who belong to him. Those who reverence him are never in need. ¹⁰ Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek Jehovah’s help have all the good things they need. ¹¹ Come, you sons, listen to me. I will teach you the respect of Jehovah.

⁹ Indeed, his salvation is near those who reverence him, and his glory will remain in our land.

¹⁶ I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you my salvation.

¹⁷ But the loving kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who reverence him, and his righteousness is to the sons of sons.

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. ²⁰ Jehovah protects all who love him, but he will destroy the wicked.

²⁷ Respect for Jehovah prolongs life. The years of the wicked will be shortened.

²¹ No evil will happen to the righteous. The wicked will be filled with trouble.

²⁶ Respect for Jehovah builds strong confidence. Your children will have a place of refuge. ²⁷ Respect for Jehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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. ¹⁷ »They will be my people,« said Jehovah of Hosts. »On the day when I act, they will be mine (my special treasure) (my jewels). I will show them compassion just as parents show compassion to the children who serve them.

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.«

⁶ »Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

³¹ The congregations throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria, were built up. They walked in deep respect for Jehovah and were comforted by the Holy Spirit and continued to grow.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need; for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. ¹² I know how to be poor. I also know how to live with abundance. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have abundance and to suffer need.

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.

⁶ Godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ We brought nothing into the world and we can carry nothing out. ⁸ We should be content with having food and covering. ⁹ Those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts. These draw men into ruin and destruction.

¹⁸ The Lord will deliver me from every evil work. He will save me to his heavenly kingdom. To him is the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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.« ⁶ So that with good confidence (courage) we say: »Jehovah is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do to me?« (Psalm 56:11)

¹¹ Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them!

²⁷ The lazy man does not cook what he took in hunting. The substance of a diligent man is precious.

¹⁹ The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns. But the way of the righteous is a wide path.

¹⁵ Laziness propels one into a deep sleep. An idle person will suffer hunger.

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding. ³¹ It was all grown over with thorns and nettles, and the wall of stone was broken down. ³² Then I saw, and considered it well. I looked on it, and received instruction: ³³ »Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.« ³⁴ Your poverty will come like a robber and your want like an armed man.

¹³ The lazy man says: »There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.« ¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. ¹⁵ The lazy man hides his hand in his bosom. It wearies him to lift it to his mouth. ¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can answer with good sense.

²³ He answered: »He who dips his hand with me in the dish is the same one who will betray me.

²⁰ He said to them: »It is one of the twelve, he that dips with me in the dish.

¹¹ »All Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.

²¹ »All the men of his city shall stone him to death. In that way you will remove the evil from your midst. All Israel will hear about it and fear.

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). ¹⁰ Respect for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the holy One is understanding (discernment) (truth) (wisdom).

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

¹⁰ Reproof influences a wise man more than a hundred stripes does to a fool.

¹¹ When the scoffer is punished the simple (naïve) is made wise. When the wise is instructed he gains knowledge.

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

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, ¹⁹ »His father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. 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. ²¹ »All the men of his city shall stone him to death. In that way you will remove the evil from your midst. All Israel will hear about it and fear.

⁵ He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps at the harvest is a son who causes shame.

² A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame and share the inheritance among the brothers.

²² Listen to your father who gave you life. Do not despise your mother when she is old. ²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it. Also buy wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²⁴ The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice and he who gives birth to a wise child will receive joy from him. ²⁵ Your father and your mother will be glad. She who bore you will rejoice.

⁷ He who obeys the law is a wise son. But he who is a companion of worthless men shames his father.

¹⁴ Blessed is the man reverencing God. He who hardens his heart will fall into trouble.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or mother, and says: »It is no transgression;« the same is the companion of a man who destroys.

¹¹ There is a generation that curses their father, and doe not bless their mother.

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.

¹² »The younger one said to him, Father I want my share of the property. He divided his property between his two sons. ¹³ »In a short time the younger son sold his share of the property. He left home with the money and traveled to a far away country where he wasted his money in reckless living. ¹⁴ »He spent everything! When a famine spread over that country he was left with nothing. ¹⁵ »He went to work for a citizen of that country who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. ¹⁶ He wanted to eat the Carob bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.

³⁰ »This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him!

¹ »If a prophet or an interpreter of dreams appears among you and gives you a sign or a wonder (portent) (omen) (forecast of the future), ² in order to lead you to worship and serve gods that you have not worshiped before, and even if what they promise comes true, ³ do not listen to them. Jehovah your God is allowing them to test you. He will then know that you love Jehovah with all your heart. ⁴ »Follow Jehovah and respect him. Obey him and keep his commandments. Worship him and be faithful to him (stick to him) (stay close to him) (cleave, cling to him).

²² »How will you deceive him?« Jehovah asked. The spirit replied: »I will make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.« Jehovah said: »Go and deceive him. You will succeed.« ²³ Micaiah concluded: This is what has happened. Jehovah made these prophets of yours lie to you. He has decreed that you will meet with disaster! ²⁴ The prophet Zedekiah went to Micaiah and slapped his face. He asked: »Since when did Jehovah’s spirit leave me and speak to you?« ²⁵ »You will see when you go into an inner chamber to hide.« Micaiah replied. ²⁶ The king of Israel said: »Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon, the ruler of the town, and to Joash, the king's son. ²⁷ »‘Tell them: ‘It is the king's order that this man is to be put in prison and given prison food till I come again in peace.’« ²⁸ Micaiah said: If you come back at all in peace, Jehovah has not sent his word by me.

⁷ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive that he does not have lips of knowledge.

¹⁵ »Watch out for the false prophets. They are disguised as sheep. But in their hearts they are vicious wolves.

⁶ Jesus said: »Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.«

¹² Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

²⁴ Then he said: »Be careful what you listen to. That which is portioned out by you might be portioned to you and more.

⁶ He told them: »Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: ‘This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. ⁷ ‘They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.’« ⁸ Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes He said: »You abandon the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. ⁹ »You totally reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ »Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother. He also said: ‘He that speaks evil of father or mother must die.’ ¹¹ »But you say: ‘If a man says to his father or his mother that which would benefit you is a gift to God, ¹² he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.’ ¹³ »You make the word of God invalid by your tradition.« ¹⁴ He called the crowd again and said: »Listen and understand!

⁵ »They will not follow a stranger but will flee from him. They do not know the voice of a stranger.«

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder for even Satan fashions himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error.

⁷ Refuse false stories and old wives' fables. Train yourself with godliness in mind.

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, 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, ⁵ frictions between men corrupted in mind and lacking in truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.

¹ There arose false prophets among the people. There will be false teachers among you! They will privately bring in destructive heresies (contrary doctrines), denying even the Master who bought them. They bring swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their lascivious (filthy sensual) deeds. The way of the truth will be maligned.

¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. This is because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

¹⁰ Do not receive anyone into your house who comes to you and does not bring this teaching. Give him no greeting!

² »'I know your works, and your labor, and your patience. I also know how you cannot tolerate those who are evil. You tested those who say they are apostles. They are not apostles. You found them to be liars.

¹⁰ »Get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death.«

¹³ The two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people. They said: »Naboth has been cursing God and the king.« Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.

¹⁶ how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!

¹² »Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, ¹³ though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,

⁷ »Who is there like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water?

⁵ He always succeeds at what he does. Your judgments are beyond his understanding. He scoffs at all his opponents.

¹¹ He says in his heart (to himself): »God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!«

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

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!« ¹⁶ Therefore this is what The Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: »Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. It is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. ¹⁷ »I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. ¹⁸ »Your covenant with death will be annulled. Your agreement with the grave will not stand when the overflowing scourge passes through. Then you will be trampled down by it.

⁸ They feed on the sins of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

² »There was a judge in a city that did not fear God and had no respect for man. ³ »There was a widow in that same city. She went to him asking for legal protection from her adversary. ⁴ »At first he refused. Then he thought about it and he said to himself, I do not fear God and have little respect for man.

¹¹ They secretly induced me to say: »We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.« ¹² They stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and pursued him. They caught him and brought him to the council. ¹³ They brought false witnesses, which said: »This man will not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

³⁴ He has no use for conceited people. He shows loving kindness to the humble.

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,

¹² When you are wise you are wise for yourself. When you scoff you bear it alone.

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of the understanding (discerning). A rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

⁶ A fool's lips want to argue. His mouth calls for blows.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back.

²² Do not be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong. For I have heard from the Sovereign Lord Jehovah of Hosts that destruction is determined (decreed) upon the whole earth.

²⁰ All who are cruel and arrogant will be extinguished. Those who live by crime will be removed.

⁴⁰ Beware that what the prophets said does not happen to you. ⁴¹ »Look among the nations, watch, and be amazed. Though you are told you will not believe the work I do today.« (Habakkuk 1:5)

⁶ »Jehovah disciplines those he loves. In fact he scourges every son (child) he receives.«

³ Know this first, that in the last days, mockers will come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, ⁴ Saying, »Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.« ⁵ For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God, ⁶ by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. ⁷ According to the same word, the heavens that now are, and the earth, are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.