1 About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” 2 “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish...
1 But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” 2 So David took his...
1 A gentle answer deflects anger,but harsh words make tempers flare. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. 3 The Lord is watching everywhere,keeping his eye on both the evil and the good. 4 Gentle words are a...
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your...
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out!Hear as understanding raises her voice!2 On the hilltop along the road,she takes her stand at the crossroads.3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,on the road leading in, she cries aloud,4 “I call to you, to all...
1 Truly God is good to Israel,to those whose hearts are pure.2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.3 For I envied the proudwhen I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.4 They seem to live...
1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave...
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah. Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon. 2 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had...
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates...
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proudbut gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty...
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you...
1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!I look to you for protection.I will hide beneath the shadow of your wingsuntil the danger passes by.2 I cry out to God Most High,to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.3 He will send help...
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think...
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon. 2 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep...
1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!Defend me with your might.2 Listen to my prayer, O God.Pay attention to my plea.3 For strangers are attacking me;violent people are trying to kill me.They care nothing for God. Interlude 4 But God is my helper.The...
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 It is God’s privilege to conceal thingsand the king’s privilege to discover them. 3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,or all that goes...
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of...
38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the...
1 Now some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. 3...
1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. 3 At the place...
1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears—our ancestors have told usof all you did in their day,in days long ago:2 You drove out the pagan nations by your powerand gave all the land to our ancestors.You crushed their enemiesand set our...
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them...
1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?2 All day long you plot destruction.Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;you’re an expert at telling lies.3 You love evil more than goodand lies more than truth. Interlude 4 You...
31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd,and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you...
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we...