13 Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 The king’s servants said to him, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind 10 concubines to take care of the palace.
17 So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house
18 while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites — 600 men who came with him from Gath — marched past the king.
19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
20 Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness.”
21 But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!”
22 “March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him.
23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching past. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the desert.
24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished marching past.
25 Then the king instructed Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, He will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.
26 However, if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am — He can do with me whatever pleases Him.”
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), 2 Samuel 15:13–26.
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 Whoever lives with integrity fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness utters lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
8 The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
9 Fools mock at making restitution, but there is goodwill among the upright.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no outsider shares in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will stand.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief.
14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves, and a good man, what his deeds deserve.
15 The inexperienced one believes anything, but the sensible one watches his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool is easily angered and is careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man who schemes is hated.
18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before those who are good, the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 A poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich.
21 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.
22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.
25 A truthful witness rescues lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.
29 A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.
31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning; she is known even among fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 A king favors a wise servant, but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 14:1–35.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), John 1:1.
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said,
Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Acts 13:16–22
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Romans 12:1.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Galatians 2:12.