Proverbs

What You Get Is Not What You See

Lesson #6 for February 7, 2015

Scriptures: [Proverbs 14; 15; Daniel 7:25; Mark 12:30-31; Isaiah 5:20; Matthew 20:26-28][i].

1.    In this lesson we will be focusing on the contrast between human wisdom and divine wisdom. It is so easy for us as human beings to be deceived. If you watch a magic show live or on television, you will realize how easily even with a little sleight-of-hand we can be deceived. But, unfortunately, probably the most serious deceptions come from our own minds. Everything we see, hear, smell, taste, or touch is interpreted in our brains based on our previous experiences. As a result, if some information is presented that does not fit easily with what our current thinking is, we often reject it without even a second thought. This is especially true when it comes time to judge our own behaviors. Ninety-six percent of Americans interviewed a few years ago believed they will go to heaven. Only four percent thought they might go to hell!

2.    Can you think of any modern examples of the fact that we have only a limited view of reality? Think of the x-rays, gamma rays, and the radio and television and satellite signals that pass right through our bodies, and we do not even know it! They are certainly in the air all around us. Does this help us to understand that something invisible can be very real? Does that help us to understand how limited our sensual perceptions are?

3.    So, how can we avoid deceiving ourselves? This section in the book of Proverbs will give us some good ideas. We need to live by faith and not merely by sight. What does that mean? If we cannot be sure about what we can actually see-in light of the traditional statement, “seeing is believing”-how can we believe in things we cannot even see?

4.    Let us take a simple example. On some days, we may feel so discouraged that we wonder if even God loves us! However, the Scriptures make it very clear that He does. Are we going to go by our own feelings? Or, by the sure Word of God?

5.    Our minds can obviously only process a certain amount of information at one time. And even that small amount of information is processed by the brain only admitting information that we feel comfortable accepting.

6.    Read Proverbs 14ii. What does this chapter tell us about fools? (1) Like Satan, the originator of sin, the selfish fool speaks proudly. (Proverbs 14:3) (2) The fool readily mocks wisdom which he chooses not to accept. (Proverbs 14:6-9) He may profess to seek wisdom, but he will reject ideas such as the fact that God created our world. He may even mock the idea of sin! (3) The fool is easily deceived. (Proverbs 14:15) Critics who mock the truths of the Bible turn around and accept some of the most incredible things. They actually believe that it might have been possible for life to develop purely by chance alone given billions of theoretical years. (4) The fool is often impulsive. (Proverbs 14:16,29) In his pride the fool often thinks that he knows what is best and does not need to take time to think things through. He reacts quickly and mostly by impulse alone. (5) The fool makes fun of and oppresses others. (Proverbs 14:21,31) Fools who are so certain that they are right are intolerant of others with different ideas, and they love to treat those others with contempt. (See Daniel 7:25; 8:11-12iii.) (See Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Sunday, February 1.)

7.    While we may feel quite confident to identify foolish thinking and behavior in others, how good are we at recognizing foolishness in ourselves? Can you think of a specific instance when you or someone you know personally acted like one of the fools mentioned above?

8.    In contrast to foolishness, Proverbs 14 also outlines some characteristics of the wise. (1) The wise person speaks with humility. (Proverbs 14:3) Those who are wise are always prepared to learn; they are not quick to judge. They consider carefully other people’s ideas, and they listen carefully when people present them. (2) The wise value the learning and knowledge they have. (Proverbs 14:6,18) The wisest people in the world are those who recognize how much there is still to learn. While the fool thinks he already knows everything that he needs to know, the wise are constantly seeking to learn more. (3) The wise are careful and cautious. (Proverbs 14:15) The wise person clearly understands the issues in the great controversy between God and Satan. He knows that sin and evil exist. He does everything possible to avoid giving Satan even a small inroad. And he does his best to identify as quickly as possible any temptation to evil. (4) The wise keep their cool. (Proverbs 14:29,33) They do not need to become excessively excited when different ideas are presented because they look to the wisdom from above and they have learned to exercise self-control. (Proverbs 14:14,26; Isaiah 30:15) (5) The wise are compassionate and sensitive. (Proverbs 14:21,31) The wise recognize that they have a relationship with God vertically and at the same time have important horizontal relationships with their brothers and sisters around the world. (See Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Monday, February 2.)

We do not realize how many of us walk by sight and not by faith. We believe the things that are seen, but do not appreciate the precious promises given us in His Word.—Ellen G. White, RH, April 8, 1884 par. 1; OHC 85.2. Compare FW35.2; GW92 411.2; 1SM 350.2.

9.    What does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight? Is it easy to trust God’s Word and move forward even when we cannot see how things could work out? Is that what Jacob and Rebecca should have done rather than tricking Isaac? Why do you think God asks us to do that?

Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 330.1. [Bold type is added.]

10.    Sinners love to do things in the dark. They think that if they are more or less out of the sight of other human beings, they can do as they like. They need to understand that “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3, NKJV) Are you comfortable with that idea? For God’s friends this should be good news. For sinners-especially those who recognize God’s existence-it may be frightening.

11.    Proverbs 15&16 take on a more theological bent. There are plenty of passages in Scripture suggesting that God sees and knows and understands everything. For example, look at [Psalm 33:18; 139; Job 28:24,28]iv. How different would our lives be if every day we “practiced the presence of God” as suggested in Lesson 1 of this series?

12.    Unfortunately, sinners tend to think that if they can avoid any human detecting their sin at the time when it happens, there will be no long-term consequences. They need to be reminded of the judgment: “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13, NKJV)

13.    Read [Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 5:20; Hebrews 5:11-6:3][v]. These verses are just a few of the many in Scripture contrasting good and evil. The Bible does not leave us in doubt about the differences between the two.

14.    Read Proverbs 15. There are several passages in this chapter talking about joy or cheer. “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.” (Proverbs 15:13, NASB,1995) “When people are happy, they smile.” (Proverbs 15:13, GNB) Jesus Himself said, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, NKJV) Despite the troubles that Christians may face, we can choose how to respond to them. Pain, suffering, and trials need not conquer us. We have a heavenly Father who guarantees us that we will not be tempted more than we are able to bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13vi)

15.    Read Acts 20:34vii, GNB: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” Have you experienced that in your own life? Luke was quoting Paul who in turn was quoting Jesus Christ; but, we do not have the original words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

16.    Shouldn’t we be cheerful and happy because we know for certain that God loves us? How can we be sure of that? Do you have any questions about that in your own mind?

17.    Read Proverbs 20:24; 21:31viii. Compare Daniel 2 and 7ix. Books like Daniel and Revelation make it very clear that God understands and knows the future. He can predict events far in the future. (See Isaiah 40-55.) In Proverbs 16:1, we are told: “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” If we are willing to cooperate with God, He will direct (Proverbs 16:9) and establish our plans (Proverbs 16:3) and work for us even among our enemies. (Proverbs 16:4,7) The one key is to cooperate with God in all that we do.

18.    Read Proverbs 16:18-19[x]. Do we need any further evidence concerning this famous passage? Don’t we all recognize that “pride goes before destruction”? Wasn’t pride the first sin? (See Ezekiel 28:17xi.) Jesus strongly urged His disciples to seek humility instead. (Matthew 20:26-28xii)

19.    Read Proverbs 16:33xiii. For careful Bible students, it is clear that the casting of lots was used on several important occasions recorded in the Bible. While we do not know exactly how the casting of lots was done in ancient times, it seems clear that God guided the results. Does that mean we should use those kinds of methods today? Would that be the best way to choose a General Conference president? Or, some other church official? There are several reasons why we should not use those methods today. First of all, if a person were chosen by casting lots and then that person did not do a perfect job, we might tend to blame God for that person’s failure. God takes responsibility in His sphere, and He asks us to take responsibility in those areas where we can do so. Of course, we always need to remember that in light of the great controversy, the Devil will be working his hardest to make our best laid plans fail.

From the beginning Satan has portrayed to men the gains to be won by transgression. Thus he seduced angels. Thus he tempted Adam and Eve to sin.

And thus he is still leading multitudes away from obedience to God. The path of transgression is made to appear desirable; “but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. Happy [are] they who, having ventured in this way, learn how bitter are the fruits of sin, and turn from it betimes.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 720.3 (1890). [Content in brackets is added.]

Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings-as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion.—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 251.2 (1905); 2MCP 797.1.

20.    As we suggested at the beginning of our lesson, one of the major contrasts in this lesson is between our wisdom and God’s wisdom. Are there ever times in your life when you think you know what is best, maybe even better than God does? It is hard for us to think about the question in those stark terms? How often do we consciously choose to sin when we know it is not a good idea and certainly not God’s plan for our lives? What does it take for us to recognize our own feeble, fallible, and imperfect perceptions of reality? How do we learn to live according to God’s wisdom, appreciate it, and understand it better? Surely, none of us would suggest that we really know more about what is right for us than God does.

21.    As Seventh-day Adventists, we not only have the inspired biblical records but also the writings of Ellen White to guide us. Do you regard these sources as dependable truth? Are there additional ways in which God is able to guide our individual lives on a day-by-day basis? Do we need more light than we have available to us now?

22.    Read Matthew 7:13-14xiv. In these verses, wasn’t Jesus advising us to choose the difficult and unpopular way as opposed to the broad, easy, popular way?

23.    How safe is it to for us to do what we think is right? Read [Judges 17:6 or 21:25]xv. (The two verses say the same thing.) Is doing just what you please-what is right in your own eyes-the same as doing what is right in God’s eyes? Can you think of some examples where individuals you know-or at least you know about-did what they thought was right and the result was disastrous? How many people believe used-or even new-car dealers? How many people believe what they hear on the news or read on the Internet? Are those reliable sources? How can we develop true, reliable, trusting relationships without at the same time being too gullible?

24.    Even the book of Proverbs suggests that there were a lot of so-called wisdom writings in the Ancient Near East. Some of them may have been borrowed by Solomon and modified or simply included in the book we are studying. Why do we consider this book inspired while we consider those other writings not inspired? Did God guide Solomon in picking out those Proverbs which represent the truth and, thus, inspire them?

25.    If we put God first in everything we do, will we be safe? (Proverbs 1:7; Matthew 6:33)xvi In Leviticus 26xvii and Deuteronomy 28-30xviii, God spelled out the results of following His wisdom versus rebelling against Him. As you look at the history of Israel down through the generations, is it not very clear what the results were of rebelling against Him?

26.    True wisdom includes an understanding of the great controversy between God and Satan over the character and government of God. Many of the stories in the Bible such as the story of Job and the story of Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice his son may seem puzzling without understanding that perspective.

27.    Caleb and Joshua, the two faithful spies in Numbers 13:25-14:38xix, and Elisha in 2 Kings 6:11-23xx illustrated the value of seeing God’s perspective on things. God knows everything about everyone from the moment we are conceived until the time when we die. (Psalm 139xxi)

Nobody can fool God. He knows when those who offer prayer or worship are sincere or hypocritical (Prov. 15:8; compare Isa. 1:11-17). He even knows our thoughts (Prov. 15:26). So, rather than avoiding God when we sin (Gen. 3:7, 8), we would be better off to confess what He already knows and receive forgiveness (Ps. 32:1-5). (Adult Teacher’s Sabbath School Bible Study Guide p. 75)

28.    We recognize that things would be much less complicated on this earth if God had forced us to always do His will. But that, of course, would eliminate human freedom and the possibility of love. God would never accept that. But, God is still in charge. He does His best to warn and instruct us; but, even when terrible things happen, such as Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery, God works it all out for the best. Don’t you think we can trust Him?

© 2014, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.

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Last Modified: December 22, 2014

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Proverbs - #6 - page 4 of 4

i-Proverbs 14:1 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness. 2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not. 3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them. 4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain. 5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies. 6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily. 7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you. 8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows. 9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven. 10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you. 11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed. 12 What you think is the right road may lead to death. 13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there. 14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds. 15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step. 16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly. 17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm. 18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge. 19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor. 20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone. 22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake. 23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor. 24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by their foolishness. 25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people. 26 Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family. 27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life. 28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing. 29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are. 30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer. 31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship. 32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity. 33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing about wisdom. 34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation. 35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.

15:1 A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up. 2 When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive, but stupid people spout nonsense. 3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere; he is watching us, whether we do good or evil. 4 Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit. 5 It is foolish to ignore what your parents taught you; it is wise to accept their correction. 6 Righteous people keep their wealth, but the wicked lose theirs when hard times come. 7 Knowledge is spread by people who are wise, not by fools. 8 The Lord is pleased when good people pray, but hates the sacrifices that the wicked bring him. 9 The Lord hates the ways of evil people, but loves those who do what is right. 10 If you do what is wrong, you will be severely punished; you will die if you do not let yourself be corrected. 11 Not even the world of the dead can keep the Lord from knowing what is there; how then can we hide our thoughts from God? 12 Conceited people do not like to be corrected; they never ask for advice from those who are wiser. 13 When people are happy, they smile, but when they are sad, they look depressed. 14 Intelligent people want to learn, but stupid people are satisfied with ignorance. 15 The life of the poor is a constant struggle, but happy people always enjoy life. 16 Better to be poor and fear the Lord than to be rich and in trouble. 17 Better to eat vegetables with people you love than to eat the finest meat where there is hate. 18 Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace. 19 If you are lazy, you will meet difficulty everywhere, but if you are honest, you will have no trouble. 20 Wise children make their fathers happy. Only fools despise their mothers. 21 Stupid people are happy with their foolishness, but the wise will do what is right. 22 Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed; without it you will fail. 23 What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion! 24 Wise people walk the road that leads upward to life, not the road that leads downward to death. 25 The Lord will destroy the homes of arrogant men, but he will protect a widow's property. 26 The Lord hates evil thoughts, but he is pleased with friendly words. 27 Try to make a profit dishonestly, and you get your family in trouble. Don't take bribes and you will live longer. 28 Good people think before they answer. Evil people have a quick reply, but it causes trouble. 29 When good people pray, the Lord listens, but he ignores those who are evil. 30 Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better. 31 If you pay attention when you are corrected, you are wise. 32 If you refuse to learn, you are hurting yourself. If you accept correction, you will become wiser. 33 Reverence for the Lord is an education in itself. You must be humble before you can ever receive honors.

Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years.

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second most important commandment is this: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment more important than these two."

Isaiah 5:20 You are doomed! You call evil good and call good evil. You turn darkness into light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter.

Matthew 20:26 This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; 27 and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others 28 like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

ii-Proverbs 14:1 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness. 2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not. 3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them. 4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain. 5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies. 6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily. 7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you. 8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows. 9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven. 10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you. 11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed. 12 What you think is the right road may lead to death. 13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there. 14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds. 15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step. 16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly. 17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm. 18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge. 19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor. 20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone. 22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake. 23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor. 24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by their foolishness. 25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people. 26 Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family. 27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life. 28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing. 29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are. 30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer. 31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship. 32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity. 33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing about wisdom. 34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation. 35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.

iii-Daniel 7:2525 He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years.

8:11 It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple. 12 People sinned there instead of offering the proper daily sacrifices, and true religion was thrown to the ground. The horn was successful in everything it did.

iv-Psalm 33:18 The Lord watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love.

139:1 Lord, you have examined me and you know me. 2 You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. 3 You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions. 4 Even before I speak, you already know what I will say. 5 You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. 6 Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding. 7 Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? 8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. 9 If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west, 10 you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, 12 but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. 15 When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there - 16 you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. 17 O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are! 18 If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. 19 O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked! How I wish violent people would leave me alone! 20 They say wicked things about you; they speak evil things against your name. 21 O Lord, how I hate those who hate you! How I despise those who rebel against you! 22 I hate them with a total hatred; I regard them as my enemies. 23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.

Job 28:24 Because he sees the ends of the earth, Sees everything under the sky. 28 God said to us humans, "To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord. To understand, you must turn from evil."

v-Proverbs 15:3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere; he is watching us, whether we do good or evil.

Isaiah 5:20 You are doomed! You call evil good and call good evil. You turn darkness into light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter.

Hebrews 5:11 There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. 12 There has been enough time for you to be teachers - yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. 13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. 14 Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil.

6:1 Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God; 2 of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. 3 Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.

vi-1 Corinthians 10:13 Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

vii-Acts 20:34 You yourselves know that I have worked with these hands of mine to provide everything that my companions and I have needed.

viii-Proverbs 20:24 The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?

21:31 You can get horses ready for battle, but it is the Lord who gives victory.

ix-Daniel 2:1 In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. It worried him so much that he couldn't sleep, 2 so he sent for his fortunetellers, magicians, sorcerers, and wizards to come and explain the dream to him. When they came and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, "I'm worried about a dream I've had. I want to know what it means." 4 They answered the king in Aramaic, "May Your Majesty live forever! Tell us your dream, and we will explain it to you." 5 The king said to them, "I have made up my mind that you must tell me the dream and then tell me what it means. If you can't, I'll have you torn limb from limb and make your houses a pile of ruins. 6 But if you can tell me both the dream and its meaning, I will reward you with gifts and great honor. Now then, tell me what the dream was and what it means." 7 They answered the king again, "If Your Majesty will only tell us what the dream was, we will explain it." 8 At that, the king exclaimed, "Just as I thought! You are trying to gain time, because you see that I have made up my mind 9 to give all of you the same punishment if you don't tell me the dream. You have agreed among yourselves to go on telling me lies because you hope that in time things will change. Tell me what the dream was, and then I will know that you can also tell me what it means." 10 The advisers replied, "There is no one on the face of the earth who can tell Your Majesty what you want to know. No king, not even the greatest and most powerful, has ever made such a demand of his fortunetellers, magicians, and wizards. 11 What Your Majesty is asking for is so difficult that no one can do it for you except the gods, and they do not live among human beings." 12 At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the execution of all the royal advisers in Babylon. 13 So the order was issued for all of them to be killed, including Daniel and his friends. 14 Then Daniel went to Arioch, commander of the king's bodyguard, who had been ordered to carry out the execution. Choosing his words carefully, 15 he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened. 16 Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. 18 He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon. 19 Then that same night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he praised the God of heaven: 20 "God is wise and powerful! Praise him forever and ever. 21 He controls the times and the seasons; he makes and unmakes kings; it is he who gives wisdom and understanding. 22 He reveals things that are deep and secret; he knows what is hidden in darkness, and he himself is surrounded by light. 23 I praise you and honor you, God of my ancestors. You have given me wisdom and strength; you have answered my prayer and shown us what to tell the king." 24 So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had commanded to execute the royal advisers. He said to him, "Don't put them to death. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means." 25 At once Arioch took Daniel into King Nebuchadnezzar's presence and told the king, "I have found one of the Jewish exiles who can tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream." 26 The king said to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar), "Can you tell me what I dreamed and what it means?" 27 Daniel replied, "Your Majesty, there is no wizard, magician, fortuneteller, or astrologer who can tell you that. 28 But there is a God in heaven, who reveals mysteries. He has informed Your Majesty what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you the dream, the vision you had while you were asleep. 29 "While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about the future; and God, who reveals mysteries, showed you what is going to happen. 30 Now, this mystery was revealed to me, not because I am wiser than anyone else, but so that Your Majesty may learn the meaning of your dream and understand the thoughts that have come to you. 31 "Your Majesty, in your vision you saw standing before you a giant statue, bright and shining, and terrifying to look at. 32 Its head was made of the finest gold; its chest and arms were made of silver; its waist and hips of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 While you were looking at it, a great stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it, struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, and shattered them. 35 At once the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold crumbled and became like the dust on a threshing place in summer. The wind carried it all away, leaving not a trace. But the stone grew to be a mountain that covered the whole earth. 36 "This was the dream. Now I will tell Your Majesty what it means. 37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of all kings. The God of heaven has made you emperor and given you power, might, and honor. 38 He has made you ruler of all the inhabited earth and ruler over all the animals and birds. You are the head of gold. 39 After you there will be another empire, not as great as yours, and after that a third, an empire of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 And then there will be a fourth empire, as strong as iron, which shatters and breaks everything. And just as iron shatters everything, it will shatter and crush all the earlier empires. 41 You also saw that the feet and the toes were partly clay and partly iron. This means that it will be a divided empire. It will have something of the strength of iron, because there was iron mixed with the clay. 42 The toes - partly iron and partly clay - mean that part of the empire will be strong and part of it weak. 43 You also saw that the iron was mixed with the clay. This means that the rulers of that empire will try to unite their families by intermarriage, but they will not be able to, any more than iron can mix with clay. 44 At the time of those rulers the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never end. It will never be conquered, but will completely destroy all those empires and then last forever. 45 You saw how a stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it and how it struck the statue made of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God is telling Your Majesty what will happen in the future. I have told you exactly what you dreamed, and have given you its true meaning." 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed to the ground and gave orders for sacrifices and offerings to be made to Daniel. 47 The king said, "Your God is the greatest of all gods, the Lord over kings, and the one who reveals mysteries. I know this because you have been able to explain this mystery." 48 Then he gave Daniel a high position, presented him with many splendid gifts, put him in charge of the province of Babylon, and made him the head of all the royal advisers. 49 At Daniel's request the king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon; Daniel, however, remained at the royal court.

7:1 In the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylonia, I had a dream and saw a vision in the night. I wrote the dream down, and this is the record 2 of what I saw that night: Winds were blowing from all directions and lashing the surface of the ocean. 3 Four huge beasts came up out of the ocean, each one different from the others. 4 The first one looked like a lion, but had wings like an eagle. While I was watching, the wings were torn off. The beast was lifted up and made to stand up straight. And then a human mind was given to it. 5 The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs. It was holding three ribs between its teeth, and a voice said to it, "Go on, eat as much meat as you can!" 6 While I was watching, another beast appeared. It looked like a leopard, but on its back there were four wings, like the wings of a bird, and it had four heads. It had a look of authority about it. 7 As I was watching, a fourth beast appeared. It was powerful, horrible, terrifying. With its huge iron teeth it crushed its victims, and then it trampled on them. Unlike the other beasts, it had ten horns. 8 While I was staring at the horns, I saw a little horn coming up among the others. It tore out three of the horns that were already there. This horn had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting proudly. 9 While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire, 10 and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened. 11 While I was looking, I could still hear the little horn bragging and boasting. As I watched, the fourth beast was killed, and its body was thrown into the flames and destroyed. 12 The other beasts had their power taken away, but they were permitted to go on living for a limited time. 13 During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. 14 He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end. 15 The visions I saw alarmed me, and I was deeply disturbed. 16 I went up to one of those standing there and asked him to explain it all. So he told me the meaning. 17 He said, "These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth. 18 And the people of the Supreme God will receive royal power and keep it forever and ever." 19 Then I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, which was not like any of the others - the terrifying beast which crushed its victims with its bronze claws and iron teeth and then trampled on them. 20 And I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the horn that had come up afterward and had made three of the horns fall. It had eyes and a mouth and was boasting proudly. It was more terrifying than any of the others. 21 While I was looking, that horn made war on God's people and conquered them. 22 Then the one who had been living forever came and pronounced judgment in favor of the people of the Supreme God. The time had arrived for God's people to receive royal power. 23 This is the explanation I was given: "The fourth beast is a fourth empire that will be on the earth and will be different from all other empires. It will crush the whole earth and trample it down. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will appear; he will be very different from the earlier ones and will overthrow three kings. 25 He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years. 26 Then the heavenly court will sit in judgment, take away his power, and destroy him completely. 27 The power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be given to the people of the Supreme God. Their royal power will never end, and all rulers on earth will serve and obey them." 28 This is the end of the account. I was so frightened that I turned pale, and I kept everything to myself.

x-Proverbs 16:18 Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall. 19 It is better to be humble and stay poor than to be one of the arrogant and get a share of their loot.

xi-Ezekiel 28:17 You were proud of being handsome, and your fame made you act like a fool. Because of this I hurled you to the ground and left you as a warning to other kings.

xii-Matthew 20:26 This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; 27 and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others 28 like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

xiii-Proverbs 16:33 People cast lots to learn God's will, but God himself determines the answer.

xiv-Matthew 7:13 "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. 14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.

xv-Judges 17:6 There was no king in Israel at that time; everyone did whatever they wanted.

21:25 There was no king in Israel at that time. Everyone did whatever they pleased.

xvi-Proverbs 1:7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

Matthew 6:33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

xvii-Leviticus 26:1 The Lord said, "Do not make idols or set up statues, stone pillars, or carved stones to worship. I am the Lord your God. 2 Keep the religious festivals and honor the place where I am worshiped. I am the Lord. 3 "If you live according to my laws and obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain at the right time, so that the land will produce crops and the trees will bear fruit. 5 Your crops will be so plentiful that you will still be harvesting grain when it is time to pick grapes, and you will still be picking grapes when it is time to plant grain. You will have all that you want to eat, and you can live in safety in your land. 6 "I will give you peace in your land, and you can sleep without being afraid of anyone. I will get rid of the dangerous animals in the land, and there will be no more war there. 7 You will be victorious over your enemies; 8 five of you will be able to defeat a hundred, and a hundred will be able to defeat ten thousand. 9 I will bless you and give you many children; I will keep my part of the covenant that I made with you. 10 Your harvests will be so plentiful that they will last for a year, and even then you will have to throw away what is left of the old harvest to make room for the new. 11 I will live among you in my sacred Tent, and I will never turn away from you. 12 I will be with you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I, the Lord your God, brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves. I broke the power that held you down and I let you walk with your head held high." 14 The Lord said, "If you will not obey my commands, you will be punished. 15 If you refuse to obey my laws and commands and break the covenant I have made with you, 16 I will punish you. I will bring disaster on you - incurable diseases and fevers that will make you blind and cause your life to waste away. You will plant your crops, but it will do you no good, because your enemies will conquer you and eat what you have grown. 17 I will turn against you, so that you will be defeated, and those who hate you will rule over you; you will be so terrified that you will run when no one is chasing you. 18 "If even after all of this you still do not obey me, I will increase your punishment seven times. 19 I will break your stubborn pride; there will be no rain, and your land will be dry and as hard as iron. 20 All your hard work will do you no good, because your land will not produce crops and the trees will not bear fruit. 21 "If you still continue to resist me and refuse to obey me, I will again increase your punishment seven times. 22 I will send dangerous animals among you, and they will kill your children, destroy your livestock, and leave so few of you that your roads will be deserted. 23 "If after all of this punishment you still do not listen to me, but continue to defy me, 24 then I will turn on you and punish you seven times harder than before. 25 I will bring war on you to punish you for breaking our covenant, and if you gather in your cities for safety, I will send incurable diseases among you, and you will be forced to surrender to your enemies. 26 I will cut off your food supply, so that ten women will need only one oven to bake all the bread they have. They will ration it out, and when you have eaten it all, you will still be hungry. 27 "If after all of this you still continue to defy me and refuse to obey me, 28 then in my anger I will turn on you and again make your punishment seven times worse than before. 29 Your hunger will be so great that you will eat your own children. 30 I will destroy your places of worship on the hills, tear down your incense altars, and throw your dead bodies on your fallen idols. In utter disgust 31 I will turn your cities into ruins, destroy your places of worship, and refuse to accept your sacrifices. 32 I will destroy your land so completely that the enemies who occupy it will be shocked at the destruction. 33 I will bring war on you and scatter you in foreign lands. Your land will be deserted, and your cities left in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy the years of complete rest that you would not give it; it will lie abandoned and get its rest while you are in exile in the land of your enemies. 36 "I will make those of you who are in exile so terrified that the sound of a leaf blowing in the wind will make you run. You will run as if you were being pursued in battle, and you will fall when there is no enemy near you. 37 You will stumble over one another when no one is chasing you, and you will be unable to fight against any enemy. 38 You will die in exile, swallowed up by the land of your enemies. 39 The few of you who survive in the land of your enemies will waste away because of your own sin and the sin of your ancestors. 40 "But your descendants will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors, who resisted me and rebelled against me, 41 and caused me to turn against them and send them into exile in the land of their enemies. At last, when your descendants are humbled and they have paid the penalty for their sin and rebellion, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and with Isaac and with Abraham, and I will renew my promise to give my people the land. 43 First, however, the land must be rid of its people, so that it can enjoy its complete rest, and they must pay the full penalty for having rejected my laws and my commands. 44 But even then, when they are still in the land of their enemies, I will not completely abandon them or destroy them. That would put an end to my covenant with them, and I am the Lord their God. 45 I will renew the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I showed all the nations my power by bringing my people out of Egypt, in order that I, the Lord, might be their God." 46 All these are the laws and commands that the Lord gave to Moses on Mount Sinai for the people of Israel.

xviii-Deuteronomy 28:1 "If you obey the Lord your God and faithfully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on earth. 2 Obey the Lord your God and all these blessings will be yours: 3 "The Lord will bless your towns and your fields. 4 "The Lord will bless you with many children, with abundant crops, and with many cattle and sheep. 5 "The Lord will bless your grain crops and the food you prepare from them. 6 "The Lord will bless everything you do. 7 "The Lord will defeat your enemies when they attack you. They will attack from one direction, but they will run from you in all directions. 8 "The Lord your God will bless your work and fill your barns with grain. He will bless you in the land that he is giving you. 9 "If you obey the Lord your God and do everything he commands, he will make you his own people, as he has promised. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that the Lord has chosen you to be his own people, and they will be afraid of you. 11 The Lord will give you many children, many cattle, and abundant crops in the land that he promised your ancestors to give you. 12 He will send rain in season from his rich storehouse in the sky and bless all your work, so that you will lend to many nations, but you will not have to borrow from any. 13 The Lord your God will make you the leader among the nations and not a follower; you will always prosper and never fail if you obey faithfully all his commands that I am giving you today. 14 But you must never disobey them in any way, or worship and serve other gods. 15 "But if you disobey the Lord your God and do not faithfully keep all his commands and laws that I am giving you today, all these evil things will happen to you: 16 "The Lord will curse your towns and your fields. 17 "The Lord will curse your grain crops and the food you prepare from them. 18 "The Lord will curse you by giving you only a few children, poor crops, and few cattle and sheep. 19 "The Lord will curse everything you do. 20 "If you do evil and reject the Lord, he will bring on you disaster, confusion, and trouble in everything you do, until you are quickly and completely destroyed. 21 He will send disease after disease on you until there is not one of you left in the land that you are about to occupy. 22 The Lord will strike you with infectious diseases, with swelling and fever; he will send drought and scorching winds to destroy your crops. These disasters will be with you until you die. 23 No rain will fall, and your ground will become as hard as iron. 24 Instead of rain, the Lord will send down duststorms and sandstorms until you are destroyed. 25 "The Lord will give your enemies victory over you. You will attack them from one direction, but you will run from them in all directions, and all the people on earth will be terrified when they see what happens to you. 26 When you die, birds and wild animals will come and eat your bodies, and there will be no one to scare them off. 27 The Lord will send boils on you, as he did on the Egyptians. He will make your bodies break out with sores. You will be covered with scabs, and you will itch, but there will be no cure. 28 The Lord will make you lose your mind; he will strike you with blindness and confusion. 29 You will grope about in broad daylight like someone blind, and you will not be able to find your way. You will not prosper in anything you do. You will be constantly oppressed and robbed, and there will be no one to help you. 30 "You will be engaged to a young woman - but someone else will marry her. You will build a house - but never live in it. You will plant a vineyard - but never eat its grapes. 31 Your cattle will be butchered before your very eyes, but you will not eat any of the meat. Your donkeys will be dragged away while you look on, and they will not be given back to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and there will be no one to help you. 32 Your sons and daughters will be given as slaves to foreigners while you look on. Every day you will strain your eyes, looking in vain for your children to return. 33 A foreign nation will take all the crops that you have worked so hard to grow, while you receive nothing but constant oppression and harsh treatment. 34 Your sufferings will make you lose your mind. 35 The Lord will cover your legs with incurable, painful sores; boils will cover you from head to foot. 36 "The Lord will take you and your king away to a foreign land, where neither you nor your ancestors ever lived before; there you will serve gods made of wood and stone. 37 In the countries to which the Lord will scatter you, the people will be shocked at what has happened to you; they will make fun of you and ridicule you. 38 "You will plant plenty of seed, but reap only a small harvest, because the locusts will eat your crops. 39 You will plant vineyards and take care of them, but you will not gather their grapes or drink wine from them, because worms will eat the vines. 40 Olive trees will grow everywhere in your land, but you will not have any olive oil, because the olives will drop off. 41 You will have sons and daughters, but you will lose them, because they will be taken away as prisoners of war. 42 All your trees and crops will be devoured by insects. 43 "Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while you gradually lose yours. 44 They will have money to lend you, but you will have none to lend them. In the end they will be your rulers. 45 "All these disasters will come on you, and they will be with you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and keep all the laws that he gave you. 46 They will be the evidence of God's judgment on you and your descendants forever. 47 The Lord blessed you in every way, but you would not serve him with glad and joyful hearts. 48 So then, you will serve the enemies that the Lord is going to send against you. You will be hungry, thirsty, and naked - in need of everything. The Lord will oppress you harshly until you are destroyed. 49 The Lord will bring against you a nation from the ends of the earth, a nation whose language you do not know. They will swoop down on you like an eagle. 50 They will be ruthless and show no mercy to anyone, young or old. 51 They will eat your livestock and your crops, and you will starve to death. They will not leave you any grain, wine, olive oil, cattle, or sheep; and you will die. 52 They will attack every town in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and the high, fortified walls in which you trust will fall. 53 "When your enemies are besieging your towns, you will become so desperate for food that you will even eat the children that the Lord your God has given you. 54 Even the most refined man of noble birth will become so desperate during the siege that he will eat some of his own children because he has no other food. He will not even give any to his brother or to the wife he loves or to any of his children who are left. 56 Even the most refined woman of noble birth, so rich that she has never had to walk anywhere, will behave in the same way. When the enemy besieges her town, she will become so desperate for food that she will secretly eat her newborn child and the afterbirth as well. She will not share them with the husband she loves or with any of her children. 58 "If you do not obey faithfully all of God's teachings that are written in this book and if you do not honor the wonderful and awesome name of the Lord your God, 59 he will send on you and on your descendants incurable diseases and horrible epidemics that can never be stopped. 60 He will bring on you once again all the dreadful diseases you experienced in Egypt, and you will never recover. 61 He will also send all kinds of diseases and epidemics that are not mentioned in this book of God's laws and teachings, and you will be destroyed. 62 Although you become as numerous as the stars in the sky, only a few of you will survive, because you did not obey the Lord your God. 63 Just as the Lord took delight in making you prosper and in making you increase in number, so he will take delight in destroying you and in bringing ruin on you. You will be uprooted from the land that you are about to occupy. 64 "The Lord will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will serve gods made of wood and stone, gods that neither you nor your ancestors have ever worshiped before. 65 You will find no peace anywhere, no place to call your own; the Lord will overwhelm you with anxiety, hopelessness, and despair. 66 Your life will always be in danger. Day and night you will be filled with terror, and you will live in constant fear of death. 67 Your hearts will pound with fear at everything you see. Every morning you will wish for evening; every evening you will wish for morning. 68 The Lord will send you back to Egypt in ships, even though he said that you would never have to go there again. There you will try to sell yourselves to your enemies as slaves, but no one will want to buy you."

29:1 These are the terms of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab; all this was in addition to the covenant which the Lord had made with them at Mount Sinai. 2 Moses called together all the people of Israel and said to them, "You saw for yourselves what the Lord did to the king of Egypt, to his officials, and to his entire country. 3 You saw the terrible plagues, the miracles, and the great wonders that the Lord performed. 4 But to this very day he has not let you understand what you have experienced. 5 For forty years the Lord led you through the desert, and your clothes and sandals never wore out. 6 You did not have bread to eat or wine or beer to drink, but the Lord provided for your needs in order to teach you that he is your God. 7 And when we came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to fight against us. But we defeated them, 8 took their land, and divided it among the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Obey faithfully all the terms of this covenant, so that you will be successful in everything you do. 10 "Today you are standing in the presence of the Lord your God, all of you - your leaders and officials, your men, 11 women, and children, and the foreigners who live among you and cut wood and carry water for you. 12 You are here today to enter into this covenant that the Lord your God is making with you and to accept its obligations, 13 so that the Lord may now confirm you as his people and be your God, as he promised you and your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 14 You are not the only ones with whom the Lord is making this covenant with its obligations. 15 He is making it with all of us who stand here in his presence today and also with our descendants who are not yet born. 16 "You remember what life was like in Egypt and what it was like to travel through the territory of other nations. 17 You saw their disgusting idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. 18 Make sure that no man, woman, family, or tribe standing here today turns from the Lord our God to worship the gods of other nations. This would be like a root that grows to be a bitter and poisonous plant. 19 Make sure that there is no one here today who hears these solemn demands and yet convinces himself that all will be well with him, even if he stubbornly goes his own way. That would destroy all of you, good and evil alike. 20 The Lord will not forgive such a man. Instead, the Lord's burning anger will flame up against him, and all the disasters written in this book will fall on him until the Lord has destroyed him completely. 21 The Lord will make an example of him before all the tribes of Israel and will bring disaster on him in accordance with all the curses listed in the covenant that is written in this book of the Lord's teachings. 22 "In future generations your descendants and foreigners from distant lands will see the disasters and sufferings that the Lord has brought on your land. 23 The fields will be a barren waste, covered with sulfur and salt; nothing will be planted, and not even weeds will grow there. Your land will be like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed when he was furiously angry. 24 Then the whole world will ask, "Why did the Lord do this to their land? What was the reason for his fierce anger?' 25 And the answer will be, "It is because the Lord's people broke the covenant they had made with him, the God of their ancestors, when he brought them out of Egypt. 26 They served other gods that they had never worshiped before, gods that the Lord had forbidden them to worship. 27 And so the Lord became angry with his people and brought on their land all the disasters written in this book. 28 The Lord became furiously angry, and in his great anger he uprooted them from their land and threw them into a foreign land, and there they are today.' 29 "There are some things that the Lord our God has kept secret; but he has revealed his Law, and we and our descendants are to obey it forever.

30:1 "I have now given you a choice between a blessing and a curse. When all these things have happened to you, and you are living among the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you, you will remember the choice I gave you. 2 If you and your descendants will turn back to the Lord and with all your heart obey his commands that I am giving you today, 3 then the Lord your God will have mercy on you. He will bring you back from the nations where he has scattered you, and he will make you prosperous again. 4 Even if you are scattered to the farthest corners of the earth, the Lord your God will gather you together and bring you back, 5 so that you may again take possession of the land where your ancestors once lived. And he will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your ancestors ever were. 6 The Lord your God will give you and your descendants obedient hearts, so that you will love him with all your heart, and you will continue to live in that land. 7 He will turn all these curses against your enemies, who hated you and oppressed you, 8 and you will again obey him and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. 9 The Lord will make you prosperous in all that you do; you will have many children and a lot of livestock, and your fields will produce abundant crops. He will be as glad to make you prosperous as he was to make your ancestors prosperous, 10 but you will have to obey him and keep all his laws that are written in this book of his teachings. You will have to turn to him with all your heart. 11 "The command that I am giving you today is not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in the sky. You do not have to ask, "Who will go up and bring it down for us, so that we can hear it and obey it?' 13 Nor is it on the other side of the ocean. You do not have to ask, "Who will go across the ocean and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?' 14 No, it is here with you. You know it and can quote it, so now obey it. 15 "Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. 16 If you obey the commands of the Lord your God, which I give you today, if you love him, obey him, and keep all his laws, then you will prosper and become a nation of many people. The Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are about to occupy. 17 But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, 18 you will be destroyed - I warn you here and now. You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. 19 I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. 20 Love the Lord your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your descendants will live long in the land that he promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

xix-Numbers 13:25 After exploring the land for forty days, the spies returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had brought. 27 They told Moses, "We explored the land and found it to be rich and fertile; and here is some of its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and their cities are very large and well fortified. Even worse, we saw the descendants of the giants there. 29 Amalekites live in the southern part of the land; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and Canaanites live by the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan River."

14:1 All night long the people cried out in distress. 2 They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, "It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?" 4 So they said to one another, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!" 5 Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people. 6 And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow 7 and said to the people, "The land we explored is an excellent land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The Lord is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid." 10 The whole community was threatening to stone them to death, but suddenly the people saw the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appear over the Tent. 11 The Lord said to Moses, "How much longer will these people reject me? How much longer will they refuse to trust in me, even though I have performed so many miracles among them? 12 I will send an epidemic and destroy them, but I will make you the father of a nation that is larger and more powerful than they are!" 13 But Moses said to the Lord, "You brought these people out of Egypt by your power. When the Egyptians hear what you have done to your people, 14 they will tell it to the people who live in this land. These people have already heard that you, Lord, are with us, that you appear in plain sight when your cloud stops over us, and that you go before us in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill all your people, the nations who have heard of your fame will say 16 that you killed your people in the wilderness because you were not able to bring them into the land you promised to give them. 17 So now, Lord, I pray, show us your power and do what you promised when you said, 18 "I, the Lord, am not easily angered, and I show great love and faithfulness and forgive sin and rebellion. Yet I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents.' 19 And now, Lord, according to the greatness of your unchanging love, forgive, I pray, the sin of these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt." 20 The Lord answered, "I will forgive them, as you have asked. 21 But I promise that as surely as I live and as surely as my presence fills the earth, 22 none of these people will live to enter that land. They have seen the dazzling light of my presence and the miracles that I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, but they have tried my patience over and over again and have refused to obey me. 23 They will never enter the land which I promised to their ancestors. None of those who have rejected me will ever enter it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land which he explored, and his descendants will possess the land 25 in whose valleys the Amalekites and the Canaanites now live. Turn back tomorrow and go into the wilderness in the direction of the Gulf of Aqaba." 26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How much longer are these wicked people going to complain against me? I have heard enough of these complaints! 28 Now give them this answer: "I swear that as surely as I live, I will do to you just what you have asked. I, the Lord, have spoken. 29 You will die and your corpses will be scattered across this wilderness. Because you have complained against me, none of you over twenty years of age will enter that land. 30 I promised to let you live there, but not one of you will, except Caleb and Joshua. 31 You said that your children would be captured, but I will bring them into the land that you rejected, and it will be their home. 32 You will die here in this wilderness. 33 Your children will wander in the wilderness for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last one of you dies. 34 You will suffer the consequences of your sin for forty years, one year for each of the forty days you spent exploring the land. You will know what it means to have me against you! 35 I swear that I will do this to you wicked people who have gathered together against me. Here in the wilderness every one of you will die. I, the Lord, have spoken.' " 36 The men Moses had sent to explore the land brought back a false report which caused the people to complain against the Lord. And so the Lord struck them with a disease, and they died. 38 Of the twelve spies only Joshua and Caleb survived.

xx-2 Kings 6:11 The Syrian king became greatly upset over this; he called in his officers and asked them, "Which one of you is on the side of the king of Israel?" 12 One of them answered, "No one is, Your Majesty. The prophet Elisha tells the king of Israel what you say even in the privacy of your own room." 13 "Find out where he is," the king ordered, "and I will capture him." When he was told that Elisha was in Dothan, 14 he sent a large force there with horses and chariots. They reached the town at night and surrounded it. 15 Early the next morning Elisha's servant got up, went out of the house, and saw the Syrian troops with their horses and chariots surrounding the town. He went back to Elisha and exclaimed, "We are doomed, sir! What shall we do?" 16 "Don't be afraid," Elisha answered. "We have more on our side than they have on theirs." 17 Then he prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord answered his prayer, and Elisha's servant looked up and saw the hillside covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 When the Syrians attacked, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, strike these men blind!" The Lord answered his prayer and struck them blind. 19 Then Elisha went to them and said, "You are on the wrong road; this is not the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after." And he led them to Samaria. 20 As soon as they had entered the city, Elisha prayed, "Open their eyes, Lord, and let them see." The Lord answered his prayer; he restored their sight, and they saw that they were inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw the Syrians, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, sir? Shall I kill them?" 22 "No," he answered. "Not even soldiers you had captured in combat would you put to death. Give them something to eat and drink, and let them return to their king." 23 So the king of Israel provided a great feast for them; and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel.

xxi-Psalm 139:1 Lord, you have examined me and you know me. 2 You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. 3 You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions. 4 Even before I speak, you already know what I will say. 5 You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. 6 Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding. 7 Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? 8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. 9 If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west, 10 you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, 12 but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. 15 When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there - 16 you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. 17 O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are! 18 If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. 19 O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked! How I wish violent people would leave me alone! 20 They say wicked things about you; they speak evil things against your name. 21 O Lord, how I hate those who hate you! How I despise those who rebel against you! 22 I hate them with a total hatred; I regard them as my enemies. 23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.

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