1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.
3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 changes of clothes.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read: When this letter comes to you, note
that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with me.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”
9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and will wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease.
12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?”
14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:1-14 (HCSB)
1 Don’t envy evil men or desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
6 for you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors.
7 Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the gate.
8 The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.
10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
Proverbs 24:1-11 (HCSB)
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs 24:12-20 (KJV)
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels,
22 for destruction from them will come suddenly; who knows what distress these two can bring?
23 These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent” — people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.
26 He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”
30 I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.
32 I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
34 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 24:21-34 (HCSB)
23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ Everything is possible to the one who believes.”
Mark 9:23 (HCSB)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26 (KJV)
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2 Timothy 3:9 (KJV)