The Berean Pursuit
Better a poor man who walks with integrity
than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Even zeal is no good without knowledge,
and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
A man's own folly subverts his way,
yet his heart rages against the LORD.
Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of the prince,
and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
All the brothers of a poor man hate him-
how much more do his friends avoid him!
He may pursue them with pleading,
but they are nowhere to be found.
He who acquires wisdom loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding will find success.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who pours out lies will perish.
Luxury is unseemly for a fool-
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
A man's insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
A king's rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is his father's ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul,
but he who is careless in his ways will die.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD,
and He will repay the lender.
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be party to his death.
A man of great anger must pay the penalty;
if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Many plans are in a man's heart,
but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
The desire of a man is loving devotion;
better to be poor than a liar.
The fear of the LORD leads to life,
that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware;
rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
He who assaults his father or evicts his mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
If you cease to hear instruction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A corrupt witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,
but any fool will quarrel.
The slacker does not plow in season;
at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
The intentions of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,
but who can find a trustworthy man?
The righteous man walks with integrity;
blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin"?
Differing weights and unequal measures-
both are detestable to the LORD.
Even a young man is known by his actions-
whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Ears that hear and eyes that see-
the LORD has made them both.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
"Worthless, worthless!" says the buyer,
but on the way out, he gloats.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies,
but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Set plans by consultation,
and wage war under sound guidance.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
Whoever curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
An inheritance gained quickly
will not be blessed in the end.
Do not say, "I will avenge this evil!"
Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD,
and dishonest scales are no good.
A man's steps are from the LORD,
so how can anyone understand his own way?
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly,
only later to reconsider his vows.
A wise king separates out the wicked
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching out his inmost being.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king;
by these he maintains his throne.
The glory of young men is their strength,
and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Lashes and wounds scour evil,
and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
The king's heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;
He directs it where He pleases.
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justice
is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart-
the guides of the wicked-are sin.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty,
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
The way of a guilty man is crooked,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
A gift in secret soothes anger,
and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,
but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
The man who strays from the path of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
He who loves pleasure will become poor;
the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
Better to live in the desert
than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man consumes them.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
He who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul from distress.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man-
of him who acts with excessive pride.
The craving of the slacker kills him
because his hands refuse to work.
All day long he covets more,
but the righteous give without restraint.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable-
how much more so when brought with ill intent!
A lying witness will perish,
but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A wicked man hardens his face,
but the upright man makes his way sure.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
that can prevail against the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory is of the LORD.
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the LORD;
He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me up from the pit of despair,
out of the miry clay;
He set my feet upon a rock,
and made my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who has made the LORD his trust,
who has not turned to the proud,
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders You have done,
and the plans You have for us-
none can compare to You-
if I proclaim and declare them,
they are more than I can count.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
but my ears You have opened.
Burnt offerings and sin offerings
You did not require.
Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-
it is written about me in the scroll:
I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart."
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
behold, I do not seal my lips,
as You, O LORD, do know.
I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation;
I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness
from the great assembly.
O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me;
Your loving devotion and faithfulness will always guard me.
For evils without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart has failed within me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
hurry, O LORD, to help me.
May those who seek my life
be ashamed and confounded;
may those who wish me harm
be repelled and humiliated.
May those who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
May all who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You;
may those who love Your salvation
always say, "The LORD be magnified!"
But I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my helper and deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman.
Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord.
Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.
I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings.
Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith - to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.