Proverbs 17:18

They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him a present for Esau, his brother:

He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!

They prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,

Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

“ ‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident.

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me.

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”

“ ‘ “Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.

He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.

By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.

For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”

I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever;

Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;

For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.’

The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.

“ ‘If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.

“Therefore you shall tell them, ‘When you heave its best from it, then it shall be credited to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine press.

You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the foreigners who are in your land within your gates.

He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.

When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.

Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing until the morning light.

Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.

“There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”

Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in Yahweh’s house, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.”

They went around in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

Therefore I set guards in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places. I set the people by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.

So you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh, but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

“ ‘ “The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.”

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.

Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,