1 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart — is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
6 Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.
8 A guilty man’s conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.
9 Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.
10 A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor.
11 When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin.
13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity.
16 The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.
18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.
19 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.
23 The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive pride.
25 A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.
26 He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back.
27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable — how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!
28 A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.
Proverbs 21:1-31 (HCSB)
4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by.
Malachi 3:4 (HCSB)
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.
5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?”
6 They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger.
7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.
9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center.
10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
John 8:1-11 (HCSB)
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
Ephesians 1:3 (HCSB)
10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB)