The Berean Pursuit
The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes,
but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
Commit your works to the LORD
and your plans will be achieved.
The LORD has made everything for His purpose-
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;
be assured that he will not go unpunished.
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even the man's enemies live at peace with him.
Better a little with righteousness
than great gain with injustice.
A man's heart plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth must not betray justice.
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
Righteous lips are a king's delight,
and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
When a king's face brightens, there is life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!
To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
The highway of the upright leads away from evil;
he who guards his way protects his life.
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Whoever heeds instruction will find success,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
A worker's appetite works for him
because his hunger drives him onward.
A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse man spreads dissension,
and a gossip divides close friends.
A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
He who winks his eye devises perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is attained along the path of righteousness.
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,
and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
Better a dry morsel in quietness
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,
but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;
whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of a son is his father.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool;
how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
A bribe is a charm to its giver;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,
but he who brings it up separates friends.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment
deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion;
a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.
If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will never leave his house.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood;
so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous-
both are detestable to the LORD.
Why should the fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge
and puts up security for his neighbor.
He who loves transgression loves strife;
he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good,
and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief;
the father of a fool has no joy.
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe
to subvert the course of justice.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent
or to flog a noble for his honesty.
A man of knowledge restrains his words,
and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning when he holds his tongue.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only in airing his opinions.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well,
and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good,
nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
A fool's lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.
A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.
Whoever is slothful in his work
is brother to him who destroys.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
A rich man's wealth is his fortified city;
it is like a high wall in his imagination.
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
He who answers a matter before he hears it-
this is folly and disgrace to him.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
A man's gift opens doors for him,
and brings him before great men.
The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.
Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates strong opponents.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of his mouth a man's belly is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.
The poor man pleads for mercy,
but the rich man answers harshly.
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: "The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me." For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written:
"Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to Your name."
Again, it says:
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people."
And again:
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and extol Him, all you peoples."
And once more, Isaiah says:
"The Root of Jesse will appear,
One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles;
in Him the Gentiles will put their hope."
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another. However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written:
"Those who were not told about Him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand."
That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you, I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.
So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.