Proverbs 27:2

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.

For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

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.

I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.

As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.

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

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

as also you acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.

that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.

He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears—behold, the silver is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “May Yahweh bless my son!”

He said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.

Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;

A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,

that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

“ ‘No meal offering which you shall offer to Yahweh shall be made with yeast; for you shall burn no yeast, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

“It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.

Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Yahweh! I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.”

Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”

He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

He said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So they made him ride in his chariot.

Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;

Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

“Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in its wide places, if you can find a man, if there is anyone who does justly, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her.

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.

Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’ ”

I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.