James 3:9

Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.

not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand. You see indeed, but don’t perceive.’

He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways. As a nation that did righteousness, and didn’t forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments. They delight to draw near to God.

He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

Why have you despised Yahweh’s word, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together.

You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.

They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived.

Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.

Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long.

I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.

Yet for all this her treacherous sister, Judah, has not returned to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense,” says Yahweh.

who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.

I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,

I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

The people believed, and when they heard that Yahweh had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’

He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”

Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),

Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol.

His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh!

While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.

Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!

Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.

Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.

David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.

I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,

Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise.

My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed. Come, Lord!

(all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God’s likeness.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.

They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh’s anointed?”

Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!” All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king.

His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.

to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.

For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.

They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.

My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul.

I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.

The Lord said, “Because this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught;

But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.