Proverbs 19-21
New American Standard Bible 1995
On Life and Conduct
19 (A)Better is a poor man who (B)walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries [b](C)his footsteps [c]errs.
3 The (D)foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart (E)rages against the Lord.
4 (F)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A (G)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who [d](H)tells lies will not escape.
6 (I)Many will seek the favor of a [e]generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who (J)gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his (K)friends abandon him!
He (L)pursues them with words, but they are [f]gone.
8 He who gets [g]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will (M)find good.
9 A (N)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who [h]tells lies will perish.
10 Luxury is (O)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (P)slave to rule over princes.
11 A man’s (Q)discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory (R)to overlook a transgression.
12 The (S)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (T)dew on the grass.
13 A (U)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (V)contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an (W)inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 (X)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle [i]man will suffer hunger.
16 He who (Y)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [j]is careless of [k]conduct will die.
17 One who (Z)is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his [l](AA)good deed.
18 (AB)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [m]his death.
19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20 (AC)Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise [n]the rest of your days.
21 Many (AD)plans are in a man’s heart,
But the (AE)counsel of the Lord will stand.
22 What is desirable in a man is his [o]kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
23 The [p](AF)fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep (AG)satisfied, [q](AH)untouched by evil.
24 The (AI)sluggard buries his hand (AJ)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (AK)Strike a scoffer and the [r]naive may become shrewd,
But (AL)reprove one who has understanding and he will [s]gain knowledge.
26 He (AM)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [t](AN)spreads iniquity.
29 [u]Judgments are prepared for (AO)scoffers,
And (AP)blows for the back of fools.
On Life and Conduct
20 (AQ)Wine is a mocker, (AR)strong drink a brawler,
And whoever [v]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger [w](AS)forfeits his own life.
3 [x](AT)Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will [y]quarrel.
4 The (AU)sluggard does not plow after the autumn,
So he [z]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a man (AV)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (AW)trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who (AX)walks in his integrity—
(AY)How blessed are his sons after him.
8 (AZ)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[aa]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 (BA)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [ab](BB)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad [ac](BC)distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (BD)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (BE)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [ad]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [ae]jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 (BF)Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (BG)plans by consultation,
And (BH)make war by wise guidance.
19 He who (BI)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [af](BJ)a gossip.
20 He who (BK)curses his father or his mother,
His (BL)lamp will go out in [ag]time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (BM)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(BN)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [ah](BO)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [ai](BP)false scale is not good.
24 (BQ)Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And (BR)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (BS)wise king winnows the wicked,
And [aj]drives the (BT)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [ak](BU)spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [al]innermost parts of his being.
28 [am]Loyalty and (BV)truth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by [an]righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [ao](BW)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (BX)Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the [ap]innermost parts.
On Life and Conduct
21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He (BY)turns it wherever He wishes.
2 (BZ)Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord (CA)weighs the hearts.
3 To do (CB)righteousness and justice
Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The (CC)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the (CD)diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone (CE)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 The (CF)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the [aq]pursuit of (CG)death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they (CH)refuse to act with justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is (CI)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than [ar]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His (CJ)neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the (CK)scoffer is punished, the [as]naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the (CL)wicked to ruin.
13 He who (CM)shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be (CN)answered.
14 A (CO)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is (CP)terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will (CQ)rest in the assembly of the [at]dead.
17 He who (CR)loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a (CS)ransom for the righteous,
And the (CT)treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 (CU)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is precious (CV)treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man (CW)swallows it up.
21 He who (CX)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22 A (CY)wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the [au]stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who (CZ)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “(DA)Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with (DB)insolent pride.
25 The (DC)desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [av]is craving,
While the righteous (DD)gives and does not hold back.
27 The (DE)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A (DF)false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29 A wicked man [aw](DG)displays a bold face,
But as for the (DH)upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is (DI)no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the Lord.
31 The (DJ)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But (DK)victory belongs to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:1 Lit his lips
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit with his feet
- Proverbs 19:2 Lit sins
- Proverbs 19:5 Lit breathes
- Proverbs 19:6 Or noble
- Proverbs 19:7 Lit not
- Proverbs 19:8 Lit heart
- Proverbs 19:9 Lit breathes
- Proverbs 19:15 Lit soul
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit despises
- Proverbs 19:16 Lit ways
- Proverbs 19:17 Or benefits
- Proverbs 19:18 Lit causing him to die
- Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your latter end
- Proverbs 19:22 Or loyalty
- Proverbs 19:23 Or reverence
- Proverbs 19:23 Lit not visited
- Proverbs 19:25 Lit simple
- Proverbs 19:25 Lit discern
- Proverbs 19:28 Or swallows
- Proverbs 19:29 Gr Rods
- Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
- Proverbs 20:3 Lit Ceasing
- Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
- Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
- Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
- Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
- Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
- Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
- Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
- Proverbs 20:20 Lit pupil (of eye)
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
- Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
- Proverbs 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty
- Proverbs 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty
- Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body
- Proverbs 21:6 Lit seekers
- Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
- Proverbs 21:11 Lit simple
- Proverbs 21:16 Lit departed spirits
- Proverbs 21:22 Lit strength of trust
- Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire
- Proverbs 21:29 Lit makes firm with his face
Psalm 40
New American Standard Bible 1995
God Sustains His Servant.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
40 I (A)waited [a]patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and (B)heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the (C)pit of destruction, out of the [b]miry clay,
And (D)He set my feet upon a rock (E)making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a (F)new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will (G)see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.
4 How (H)blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And (I)has not [c]turned to the proud, nor to those who (J)lapse into falsehood.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are (K)the wonders which You have done,
And Your (L)thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They (M)would be too numerous to count.
6 [d](N)Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have [e]opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is [f]written of me.
8 (O)I delight to do Your will, O my God;
(P)Your Law is within my heart.”
9 I have (Q)proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will (R)not restrain my lips,
O Lord, (S)You know.
10 I have (T)not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have (U)spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
11 You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
[g]Your (V)lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
12 For evils beyond number have (W)surrounded me;
My (X)iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are (Y)more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my (Z)heart has [h]failed me.
13 (AA)Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make (AB)haste, O Lord, to help me.
14 Let those be (AC)ashamed and humiliated together
Who (AD)seek my [i]life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight [j]in my hurt.
15 Let those (AE)be [k]appalled because of their shame
Who (AF)say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 (AG)Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation (AH)say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
17 Since (AI)I am afflicted and needy,
[l](AJ)Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.
Footnotes
- Psalm 40:1 Or intently
- Psalm 40:2 Lit mud of the mire
- Psalm 40:4 Lit regard
- Psalm 40:6 I.e. Blood sacrifice
- Psalm 40:6 Lit dug; or possibly pierced
- Psalm 40:7 Or prescribed for
- Psalm 40:11 Or May...preserve
- Psalm 40:12 Lit forsaken
- Psalm 40:14 Or soul
- Psalm 40:14 Or to injure me
- Psalm 40:15 Or desolated
- Psalm 40:17 Or The Lord is mindful
Romans 16
New American Standard Bible 1995
Greetings and Love Expressed
16 I (A)commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a [a]servant of the church which is at (B)Cenchrea; 2 that you (C)receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the [b](D)saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, [c]and of myself as well.
3 Greet (E)Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers (F)in (G)Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet (H)the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the (I)first convert to Christ from [d](J)Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and [e]Junias, my (K)kinsmen and my (L)fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also [f]were (M)in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker (N)in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved (O)in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my (P)kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet (Q)Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all (R)the [g]saints who are with them. 16 (S)Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and [h]hindrances (T)contrary to the teaching which you learned, and (U)turn away from them. 18 For such men are (V)slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of (W)their own [i]appetites; and by their (X)smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience (Y)has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but (Z)I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 (AA)The God of peace will soon crush (AB)Satan under your feet.
(AC)The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 (AD)Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do (AE)Lucius and (AF)Jason and (AG)Sosipater, my (AH)kinsmen.
22 I, Tertius, who (AI)write this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 (AJ)Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. (AK)Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. 24 [[j]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
25 (AL)Now to Him who is able to establish you (AM)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of (AN)the mystery which has been kept secret for (AO)long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by (AP)the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to (AQ)obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, (AR)be the glory forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 16:1 Or deaconess
- Romans 16:2 Or holy ones
- Romans 16:2 Lit and of me, myself
- Romans 16:5 I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor
- Romans 16:7 Or Junia (fem)
- Romans 16:7 Lit have become
- Romans 16:15 V 2, note 1
- Romans 16:17 Lit occasions of stumbling
- Romans 16:18 Lit belly
- Romans 16:24 Early mss do not contain this v
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
