Proverbs 1:22

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring:

I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry and rejoice. I sat alone because of your hand, for you have filled me with indignation.

Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil.

But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.

Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.

So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.

This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,

Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.

Praise Yah! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments.

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him.

As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.

to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,

The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.

Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.

But about the dead, that they are raised; haven’t you read in the book of Moses, about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.

and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.

Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long will your evil thoughts lodge within you?

I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean. How long will it yet be?”

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Yahweh said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, which they complain against me.

“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.

What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?

The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.

I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!” I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.

Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?

Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, and because of their iniquities.

They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:

Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?

But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.”

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!

You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the outside make the inside also?

saying, “If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.

For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.