1 Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act,
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.
Psalm 37:1-7
1 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also does, and along with dishonor, disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.
5 It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent.
6 A fool’s lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.
8 A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.
9 The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.
10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him.
14 A man’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it.
16 A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great.
17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents.
19 An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly.
24 A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:1-24
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.
Colossians 3:3
8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
22 By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:22-23