Proverbs 18:17

So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

“Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you,

Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth.” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son.

“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”

Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.

“You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.

and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,

When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!”

The king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.”

Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”

Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

Look at this. We have searched it. It is so. Hear it, and know it for your good.”

“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

“How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.

It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.

“Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.

Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.

He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’ ”

Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.

Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?

but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”

Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.

and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

They took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which you are speaking about?

Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”

When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”

Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.

“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews,

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.

For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,

My defense to those who examine me is this:

But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie;

Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.

Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.

At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.

For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.