20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.
21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?
23 If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 1:20–23.
1 My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands.
2 Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as the pupil of your eye.
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your relative.
5 She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk.
A Story of Seduction
6 At the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
7 I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
8 Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house
9 at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night.
10 A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
11 She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home.
12 Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
13 She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him,
14 “I’ve made fellowship offerings; today I’ve fulfilled my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I’ve found you.
16 I’ve spread coverings on my bed — richly colored linen from Egypt.
17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let’s feast on each other’s love!
19 My husband isn’t home; he went on a long journey.
20 He took a bag of money with him and will come home at the time of the full moon.”
21 She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
22 He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap
23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare — he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths.
26 For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless.
27 Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 7:1–27.
14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: Mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Isaiah 38:14.
22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
23 After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.
24 But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea.
26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. r“Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”-r
28 “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.”
29 r“Come!”-r He said.
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, r“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”-r
32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Matthew 14:22–33.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), John 12:26.
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Acts 9:1–9.
11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people,
12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Titus 2:11–14.