The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So...
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if...
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get...
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.Learn from their ways and become wise!Though they have no princeor governor or ruler to make them work,they labor hard all summer,gathering food for the winter.But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?When will you wake up?A little...
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. “Fools fold their idle hands,leading them to ruin.” And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietnessthan two handfuls with hard workand chasing the wind.” I...
This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to water the earth,...
Truly God is good to Israel,to those whose hearts are pure.But as for me, I almost lost my footing.My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.For I envied the proudwhen I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.They seem to live such painless lives;their bodies...
O Lord, why do you stand so far away?Why do you hide when I am in trouble?The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.For they brag about their evil desires;they praise the greedy and curse the...
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we...
“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and...
I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” I also thought about the...
Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;it is fitting for the pure to praise him.Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.Sing a new song of praise to him;play skillfully on the harp, and sing with...
“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when...
King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs,how...
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you...
Who else has held the oceans in his hand?Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?Who else knows the weight of the earthor has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?Who knows enough to...
For everything there is a season,a time for every activity under heaven.A time to be born and a time to die.A time to plant and a time to harvest.A time to kill and a time to heal.A time to tear down and a time to...
Listen to this, all you people!Pay attention, everyone in the world!High and low,rich and poor—listen!For my words are wise,and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listen carefully to many proverbsand solve riddles with inspiration from a harp. Why should I fear when trouble comes,when enemies surround...
Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is...
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope...
Each year Solomon received about 25 tons of gold. This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the provinces also brought gold and silver to Solomon. King Solomon made 200 large shields...
Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful. Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders....
So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. For the wise can see where they are going, but...
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see,...
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to...