18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Genesis 22:18.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 8:13.
1 The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved.
4 The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose — even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it.
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16 Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.
18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.
20 The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the LORD will be happy.
21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Proverbs 16:1–33.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), John 1:4–9.
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), John 3:16.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), John 15:5.
1 Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Growth in the Faith
3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
4 By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,
7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), 2 Peter 1:1–11.