Proverbs 4 Cross References - NSB

¹ Listen my sons to what your father teaches you. Pay attention and gain understanding. ² I give you good instruction. Do not abandon my Law! ³ I was my father’s son, tender and the only son to my mother. ⁴ Father taught me. He said: »Remember my words in your heart. Obey my commandments and live. ⁵ »Achieve wisdom and understanding! Do not forget or ignore what I say. ⁶ »Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe. ⁷ »Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding. ⁸ »Love wisdom and she will exalt you. Embrace wisdom and she will honor you. ⁹ »She will present you with a crown of glory.« ¹⁰ Listen to me, my son. Accept what I tell you and live a long life. ¹¹ I taught you wisdom and the right way to live. ¹² Walk with wisdom and nothing will stand in your way. Run with wisdom and you will not stumble. ¹³ Take firm hold of instruction and do not let go. Obey her for she is your life. ¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men. ¹⁵ Avoid it! Do not pass by it. Turn away from it, and pass on! ¹⁶ They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. ¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the shining light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the more perfect day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. ²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words. Incline your ear (extend your hearing) to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them leave your sight. Hold them in the midst of your heart! ²² For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it come the source of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth. Get rid of devious speech. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead. Let you own eyes gaze (be fixed) straight in front of you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet. Let all your ways be established (firm). ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

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

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

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!

¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Listen to my understanding.

²⁰ My son, obey your father's command, and do not abandon the law of your mother: ²¹ Constantly bind them upon your heart, and tie them about your neck. ²² When you go, they will lead you; when you sleep they will watch over you and when you awake, they will talk to you. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp. The law is light. Reproofs for instruction are the way of life.

⁴ Say to wisdom: »You are my sister!« Call understanding your friend.

³² »Listen to me, my children: for blessed are those who practice my ways. 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.«

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

¹⁷ Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart and mind to my knowledge.

¹¹ You know how we dealt with each one of you. It was like a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging and showing you. ¹² You should walk worthily of God, who called you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹ Pay close attention to the things heard so we do not drift away.

² »My instruction shall drop as the rain; my words shall descend like dew, as the gentle rains on the tender plant, and as the showers on vegetation.

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.

¹⁹ »On the other hand, if you and your descendants turn away from me and abandon my commandments and laws that I gave you, and follow and serve other gods and worship them,

⁴ »You say to God: ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.’

³ »My words come from an upright heart! My lips sincerely speak what I know.

¹ ([Sons of Korah]) Listen to this, all you people. Open your ears, all who live in the world. ² Listen you common people and important ones, rich people and poor ones. ³ My mouth will speak wisdom. I have carefully considered understanding (insights).

³⁰ If his descendants abandon my law and do not live by my rules, ³¹ if they violate my statutes and do not obey my commandments, ³² then with a rod I will punish their transgression and their crimes with beatings.

⁶ »Listen for I speak of excellent things. The truth comes from my lips. ⁷ »My mouth will speak truth! Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ⁸ »All my speech is righteous. Nothing crooked or perverse comes from my mouth. ⁹ »They are all straight talk to him who understands. It is proper to those who find knowledge.

²⁰ Have I not written to you excellent things in counsel and knowledge? ²¹ I make you know the certainty of the words of truth. And you will answer the words of truth to those who speak to you.

¹⁶ Jesus replied: »My teaching is not my own. It is his who sent me. ¹⁷ »If any man does his will he shall know the teachings. He will know if it is from God, or whether I speak from myself.

⁶ If you tell the brothers about these things, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed until now.

⁹ holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to reprove (refute) (rebuke) those who contradict.

²⁴ David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. Jehovah loved the child. ²⁵ He sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah (Jehovah’s Beloved).

¹³ »‘Go now to King David and ask him: ‘Your Majesty, did you solemnly promise me that my son Solomon would succeed you as king? How is it that Adonijah has become king?’ ¹⁴ Nathan added: »While you are still talking with King David, I will come in and confirm your story.« ¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, was taking care of him. ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed low before the king. He asked: »What do you want?« ¹⁷ She answered: »Your Majesty, you made me a solemn promise in the name of Jehovah your God that my son Solomon would be king after you.

⁵ and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.

⁵ David said: »My son Solomon is young and inexperienced. The house to be built for Jehovah should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it. So David made extensive preparations before his death.«

¹ King David announced to the entire assembly: »God has chosen my son Solomon. He is however young and lacks experience. The work to be done is enormous, because this is not a palace for people but a Temple for Jehovah God.

²³ O Jehovah, I know that humans are not able to govern their own lives. Humans cannot administer their own steps.

¹⁰ »I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of kindness and of supplication. They will look to the one whom they pierced; and they will mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son. There will be a bitter lamentation for him, like one who grieves for his first-born.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind as others. Do not think lofty things but be led along by lowly things. Do not be wise in your own conceit (self-love) (vanity) (estimation).

¹⁹ »I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household; and that they may remain in the righteous and just way of Jehovah. Jehovah will bring to Abraham what he told him.«

³ »‘Do not follow the customs of Egypt where you used to live or those of Canaan where I am bringing you. ⁴ »‘I am Jehovah your God! You must obey my teachings. ⁵ »‘Obey them and you will live. I am Jehovah.

⁹ »Be on your guard! Make sure you do not forget, as long as you live, what you have seen with your own eyes. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.

⁶ »These words that I command you this day must be in your heart.

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. ¹⁴ »I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of Jehovah three thousand seven hundred and fifty tons of gold, about thirty-seven thousand five hundred tons of silver, quantities of copper and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. ¹⁵ »You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work ¹⁶ in gold and silver, copper and iron, craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and Jehovah will be with you.«

¹¹ Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against you.

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

² Obey my commandments and live, and my teaching like the pupil of your eye.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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.

⁵⁰ »I know that his commandment means everlasting life. Therefore I say the things the Father tells me to say.«

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of God.

⁵ I am mindful of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

¹⁵ From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to make you wise to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.

⁹ Being made perfect, he became the source (cause) (channel) (conduit) (pathway) (facilitator) of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Psalm 3:8)

² He did what Jehovah considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.

¹¹ »My foot has held fast to his path. I have kept his way and not turned aside.

¹⁸ Our hearts never turned away. Our feet never left your path.

⁵¹ The arrogant utterly deride me, yet I do not turn aside from your law.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. Even so I do not turn aside from your law.

²² »How long, you simple (stupid) (foolish) ones, will you love simplicity (foolishness) (stupidity)? The scoffers delight in scoffing. Fools hate knowledge! ²³ »Listen when I reprove you. I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to 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!

¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom. Happy is the man who gains understanding. ¹⁴ The profit from wisdom is better than the profit from silver. Her gain is better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She (wisdom) is more precious than pearls. Nothing you desire compares with wisdom. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who hold her. Happy are all who keep her.

⁵ »O you simple ones, understand wisdom and, you fools, be of an understanding heart.

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding instead of silver!

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

¹ A man of solitude (who keeps to himself) (isolates himself) seeks his own (selfish) desire. He objects to sound wisdom.

⁸ He who acquires wisdom loves life. He who guards understanding finds good.

²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it. Also buy wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God. He gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.

¹⁰ Wisdom enters your heart. Knowledge gives you pleasure. ¹¹ Discretion will protect you. Understanding will watch over you. ¹² It will deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things.

²¹ Do not let them leave your sight. Hold them in the midst of your heart! ²² For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

¹⁷ May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith to the end that you will be rooted and grounded in love.

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.

¹⁶ Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases. ¹⁷ He will not take anything with him when he dies. Even his greatness cannot follow him. ¹⁸ Even though he blesses himself while he is alive. (People will praise you when you do well for yourself.) ¹⁹ He must join the generation of his ancestors who will never see light again. ²⁰ Mortals, with what they treasure, still do not have understanding. They are like animals that die.

¹⁰⁴ I get understanding from your precepts. Therefore I hate every false way.

⁶ Wealth acquired by lying is fleeting vapor and a deadly pursuit.

⁴ I made great works. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself. ⁵ I made myself parks and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all kinds. ⁶ I made water pools from which to water the young trees. ⁷ I acquired male and female servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I gathered silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, girls of all sorts to be my brides. ⁹ I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me.

⁸ There is a man who is by himself, without a companion. He is without son or brother. There is no end to all his work. He never has enough wealth. Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. He never asks: »For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?« This too is vanity and a terrible problem.

¹² Wisdom is a shelter just as money is a shelter. The advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives lift to those who have it.

¹⁶ Then I said: »Wisdom is better than strength.« Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. ¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in quietness are more than the loud cry of the ruler of fools. ¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war, yet one sinner destroys much good.

⁴⁴ »The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field. ⁴⁵ »The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls. ⁴⁶ »When he found one pearl of great value, he sold all that he had, and bought it.

³⁶ »What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ »What should a man give in exchange for his life?

⁴² »However one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the proper way and it shall not be taken away from her.«

²⁰ »But God said to him: ‘You fool this night you will give up your life. Then who will have all these things you accumulated?’

⁸ I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I suffered the loss of all things. Yet I count them as refuse (garbage) (dung) that I may gain Christ.

³⁰ »Jehovah, the God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me all the days of your life.’« Now Jehovah says: »Far be it from me. I will honor those who honor me. I will not regard those who think little of me.

⁵ That night Jehovah appeared to him in a dream and asked him: »What do you want me to give you?« 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. ¹³ »I will also give you what you did not ask for. All your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king.

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

⁴ Respect for Jehovah and humility bring riches and honor and life.

³ »Those who have wisdom (insight) will shine like the brightness of the firmament. They turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

⁹ Discipline and education are a graceful ornament on your head, and a golden chain around your neck.

²² They will mean life to you and adornment to your neck.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory when it is found in the way of righteousness.

⁵ Jehovah of armies will then become a crown of glory and beauty to the remnant of his people.

⁹ Likewise I want women to be adorned in modest clothing, with modesty and soundness of mind; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly clothes; ¹⁰ but that which becomes a woman professing godliness through good works.

⁷ »You made him a little lower than the angels for a little while. (Greek: brachus, short time) (Psalm 8:4, 5) You crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands. ⁸ »You put all things in subjection under his feet.« You subjected all things to him and left nothing that is not subject to him. Now we do not see yet all things in subjection to him. ⁹ We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor for suffering death. By the grace of God he tasted death for every man.

⁴ Let your appearance be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit. This is of great value in the sight of God.

⁴ When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

²¹ »'To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

¹⁶ »‘Honor your father and your mother, as Jehovah your God commands you and your days will be prolonged and things will go well with you, in the land Jehovah gives you.

² »As long as you live, you, your son, and your grandson must respect Jehovah your God. All of you must obey his laws and commandments I give you. Then you will live a long time.

²² »Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

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

² My precepts will give you a long, peaceful, and prosperous life.

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

¹⁰ »Receive my instruction and not silver. Take knowledge rather than choice gold.

²⁰ Listen to the word of Jehovah, you women, and open your ears to hear his words. Teach your daughters how to cry. Teach your neighbors funeral songs.

³² »He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no man accepts his testimony. ³³ »He who receives his testimony confirms by his seal that God is true.

¹³ For this purpose we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and worthy of acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

⁵ »I have taught you laws and rules as Jehovah my God commanded me. You must obey them when you enter the land and take possession of it.

²³ »As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do. ²⁴ »Reverence Jehovah and serve him in truth with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.

³ He restores me and he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴ Make your ways known to me, O Jehovah, and teach me your paths. ⁵ Make me walk (guide me) (bend me) in your truth and teach me because you are my God of salvation. I wait all day long for you.

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

⁶ »Listen for I speak of excellent things. The truth comes from my lips.

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

²⁰ »I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

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 And said: »You child of the devil, full of all subtlety and mischief, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of Jehovah?

³⁷ »You clear the way for me. I will not stumble.

⁷ »The vigor of his step is weakened. His own schemes will bring his downfall. ⁸ »His feet cast him into a net and he wanders into its mesh.

³⁶ You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip.

¹¹ He will put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways. ¹² They will carry you in their hands so that you never strike your foot against a rock.

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

²³ You will walk in your way safely. Your foot will not stumble.

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

²² When you go, they will lead you; when you sleep they will watch over you and when you awake, they will talk to you.

⁹ With weeping they will come. By supplication I will lead them. I will make them walk by streams of waters on a straight path in which they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn.

⁹ Jesus answered: »Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ »But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.«

³² Why? It is because it was not based on the principle of faith, but on that of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling stone. ³³ It is written: »Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence and he that believes on him will not be ashamed.« (Isaiah 8:14)

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.

¹⁰ He who loves his brother lives in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling (offence) in him. ¹¹ But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he goes because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

²⁶ He said to him: »Let me go now, for the dawn is near.« But Jacob said: »I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing.«

⁴⁷ »It is not an idle talk! Indeed it is your life. By this word you will prolong your days in the land you to possess on the other side of the Jordan.«

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

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

²⁷ He explained to them all the Scriptures about the things concerning him. He spoke about Moses and all the prophets. ²⁸ They approached the village where they were going and he appeared to be going further. ²⁹ They persuaded him not to go saying, »Abide with us. It is nearly evening and the day is almost gone.« He stayed with them.

³⁹ Many Samaritans of that city put faith (believed) in him because of what the woman said: »He told me everything I have ever done.« ⁴⁰ When the Samaritans came to him they urged him to stay with them. So he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ Many more believed because of the words he spoke. ⁴² They told the woman: »We believe because of what you said and we heard him ourselves. We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world!«

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him: »Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life!

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

²³ When he arrived he saw the grace of God and was glad. He exhorted them all to remain true to the Lord as their only purpose of heart.

²¹ Prove all things; hold fast to what is good.

¹³ »'I know where you live and where the throne of Satan is. You cling to my name and have not denied my faith, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness. He was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

¹¹ They conquered (overcame) him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives when faced with death.

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful mockers.

⁴ I do not sit with deceitful men, and I will not be found among hypocrites. ⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with wicked people.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners tempt you do not consent.

¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Withhold your food from their path!

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

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

³³ Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.

⁷ »Do not make false accusations. Do not put an innocent person to death. I will condemn anyone who does this evil thing.

¹⁴ if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

²³ »If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. You must remove unrighteousness from your tents,

⁸ Keep far away from her. Do not go near the door of her house.

⁵ Deliver your self like a deer from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler (bird catcher).

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.

¹¹ Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead reprove (expose) (convict) them.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

⁴ He plans wickedness upon his bed. He walks on a path that is not good. He does not despise evil.

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

²⁰ But the wicked are like the troubled and restless sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

¹ »Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning comes they do it because they are able to (it is in the power of their hands).

⁶⁶ The next day the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together. They included chief priests and scribes. They led him away to their council, saying:

²⁸ They lead Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early and they did not enter directly into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin! They entice unsteady persons. Their hearts are full of covetousness. They are children of cursing.

⁵ »Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their toil. They search in the wasteland food for their young. ⁶ »They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.

⁴ Are all the workers of wickedness, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on Jehovah?

¹⁷ »Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.«

¹⁷ Bread taken by deceit tastes sweet to a man. Afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.

²⁶ »Wicked men are found among my people. They lie in ambush like bird catchers. They set traps and catch men. ²⁷ »Like cages filled with birds, their houses are filled with deceit. That is why they become powerful and rich. ²⁸ »They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They do not defend the rights of the poor.

²⁵ ‘»There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives. They have taken treasure and precious things. They have made many widows in the midst of her. ²⁶ ‘»Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the profane. They have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean. They hide their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. ²⁷ ‘»Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. ²⁸ ‘»Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them. They see false visions and divine lies for them. They say: »This is what the Lord Jehovah says, when Jehovah has not spoken.« ²⁹ ‘»The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery. They have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.’

⁴ »Hear this, you who would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail. ⁵ »You say: When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit. ⁶ »We may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

⁵ Jehovah spoke concerning the prophets: »They make my people stray. They bite with their teeth and cry, »Peace,« but receive nothing in their mouths. They declare holy war on him.

¹² The rich men are full of violence! Her inhabitants speak lies. Their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

³ Her princes (rulers) within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing till the morning.

¹³ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter.

⁴ Behold, the wages of the laborers who harvested your fields, which are held back by you, cry out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of Jehovah of Hosts. ⁵ You lived in luxury on the earth, and take your pleasure; you nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.

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

¹⁷ »Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.

¹⁰ »But He knows the way I walk. He has tried me. I shall come forth as gold.

⁷ They grow stronger as they go and they will see the God of gods on Zion.

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

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.«

⁶ »It will happen! There will be no light for the bright ones will withdraw themselves! ⁷ »It will be a day known to Jehovah. It will not be day and it will not be night, but there will light in the evening.

¹⁴ »You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill may be seen by all.

¹⁶ »Likewise, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

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.

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying: »I am the light of the world. He that follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.«

¹⁸ We all, with unveiled face, behold as in a mirror the glory of God and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as from God’s Spirit.

¹⁵ That way you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. You are seen as lights in the world.

¹⁹ We have the word of prophecy made sure (steadfast) (firm)! You do well that you pay attention [to God’s Word] as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the daystar rises, in your hearts.

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.

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.

⁹ »He guards the feet of his holy ones. The wicked are silenced in darkness. Man will not prevail by strength.

¹⁴ »They meet in darkness in the daytime! In bright sunlight they grope as if it were night.

²⁵ »They grope in darkness without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

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

¹⁸ »He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world.

¹³ Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness?

⁹ That is why justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light and we walk in darkness. We hope for brightness but we walk in gloom. ¹⁰ We grope like blind men along a wall. We grope like people without eyes. We stumble at noon as if it were evening. We are like dead people among the living.

¹⁶ Give glory to Jehovah your God before he brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You hope for light. He makes it into deep darkness and turns it into gloom.

¹² »That is why their own way will become like a slippery path in the dark. They will be chased away, and they will fall down in the dark. I will bring disaster on them. It is time for them to be punished,« proclaims Jehovah.

²³ »I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of evil.’

¹⁴ »Let them be. They are blind guides. If a blind man guides another blind man, they will fall in a hole together.«

¹⁰ »But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.«

³⁵ Jesus said to them: »The light will be with you for a little while. Walk while you have the light, that darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

¹¹ But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he goes because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

¹ ([Psalm of Asaph]) Listen, O my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

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

²⁰ My son, obey your father's command, and do not abandon the law of your mother: ²¹ Constantly bind them upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.

¹ My son, pay attention to my words, and preserve my commandments within you.

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud, saying: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.«

⁸ »I am pleased to do your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.

³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

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

¹ My son, pay attention to my words, and preserve my commandments within you. ² Obey my commandments and live, and my teaching like the pupil of your eye.

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

¹⁰ Listen to me, my son. Accept what I tell you and live a long life.

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

⁶ »However I will heal this city and restore it to health. I will heal its people, and I will give them peace and security.

²³ Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious (troubled) (painful) (disturbing) thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

⁷ »Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding.

¹⁶ A gracious woman retains honor. Ruthless and violent men retain riches.

³ He who keeps his mouth (watches what he says) keeps his life. He who opens wide his lips (speaks thoughtlessly) will have destruction.

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

¹⁹ Listen and be wise, my son, and direct your heart in the way.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. He who walks wisely will be delivered.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun. I have seen riches being hoarded by their owner to his downfall (distress).

⁹ »The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately corrupt. Who can understand it?

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.

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

²¹ »It is from the heart that evil thoughts come such as: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² coveting, wickedness, deceit, loose conduct, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ²³ »All these evil things come from within and defile the man.«

³⁸ »To avoid temptation watch and pray. The spirit truly is willing but the flesh is weak.«

⁴⁵ »The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good. The evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth that which is evil. Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

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

¹⁴ Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his evil desire (lust). He is enticed (allured). ¹⁵ Then evil desires, when conceived, give birth to sin: and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

¹² An ungodly person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth.

⁸ »All my speech is righteous. Nothing crooked or perverse comes from my mouth.

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

²⁰ He who has a deceitful heart finds no good. He who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

³¹ ‘»Give up all the evil you have been doing. Get yourselves new minds and hearts. Why do you Israelites want to die?

²⁵ Put away falsehood. Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor: for we are members (belonging to) (together with) of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your anger (rage). ²⁷ Do not give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ He that steals must steal no more. Let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to someone in need. 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. ³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in which (Greek: en hos) (in which) (Greek: hos, he ho) (whereby) (which) you were sealed to the day of release by ransom. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and screaming, and abusive speech, be put away (removed) (expiated) from you, along with all malice.

⁸ Now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech out of your mouth.

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

²¹ Therefore get rid of all filthiness and wickedness. Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save you.

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

¹ Put away all badness and all deception, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil talk.

¹ »I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

³⁷ Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in your ways.

⁵ Will you look for things that do not exist? Riches grow wings and fly away like a bird.

³³ Your eyes will see strange things and your heart (and mind) will utter perverse things.

²² »The eyes are like a lamp for the body. If your eye is clear (simple) (focused) (single minded), your whole body will be full of [spiritual] light.

²³ Jehovah directs a person's steps and Jehovah delights in his way.

² He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet upon a rock and made me stand erect.

⁵ Oh that my ways may be established to keep your statutes!

⁵⁹ I considered my ways and turned my feet to your laws.

⁶ She does not ponder the path of life. Her unstable ways she does not know.

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

²⁸ ‘»He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die.

⁵ Jehovah of Hosts said: »Consider your ways.

⁷ Then Jehovah said: »Consider your ways.

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

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

¹³ May he resolutely strengthen your hearts without blame in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.

³ But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

¹³ Make straight paths for your feet. Let that which is lame be turned out of the way, but rather let it be healed.

¹⁰ After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will perfect, establish, and strengthen you.

³² Be careful to do what Jehovah your God has commanded you. Never turn to the right or to the left.

³² »Be careful to do what I command you. Do not add to it nor take away from it.

¹⁴ and do not turn aside from any of the words I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

⁷ »Be strong and very courageous, that you may be careful to do according to all the Law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

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

¹⁶ »Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor evil and cling to good.