Proverbs 10
1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.
3The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.
9He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.
11The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
14Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15The rich man's wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.
Isaiah 48
17Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.
18Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19Your descendants also would have been like the sand, And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand; His name would not have been cut off Nor destroyed from before Me."
20Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!"
21And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.
22"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."
Isaiah 49
1"Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
2And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me."
3"And He said to me, "You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.'
4Then I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God."'
Job 38
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2"Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8"Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11When I said, "This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!'
12"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.
15From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.
16"Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
19"Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
20That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?
21Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?
22"Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
24By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25"Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;
27To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.
31"Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?
32Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?
35Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, "Here we are!'?
36Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?
Glory be to God forever. Amen.