Today's Reading

¹It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under curtains."

²Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you."

³It happened the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

⁴"Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus says the Lord, "You shall not build me a house to dwell in;

⁵for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.

⁶In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"'

⁷"Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.

⁸I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

⁹I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

¹⁰and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the Lord will build you a house.

¹¹It shall happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

¹²He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

¹³I will be his father, and he shall be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before you;

¹⁴but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne shall be established forever."'"

¹⁵According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

¹⁶Then David the king went in, and sat before the Lord; and he said, "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

¹⁷This was a small thing in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the estate of a man of high degree, Lord God.

¹⁸What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.

¹⁹Lord, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

²⁰Lord, there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

²¹What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeem out of Egypt?

²²For your people Israel you made your own people forever; and you, Lord, became their God.

²³Now, Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.

²⁴Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, 'The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.'

²⁵For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.

²⁶Now, Lord, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.

²⁷Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord, have blessed, and it is blessed forever."

¹After this it happened, that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

²He struck Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.

³David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

⁴David took from him one thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.

⁵When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.

⁶Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

⁷David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

⁸From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much brass, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

⁹When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

¹⁰he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou;) and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and brass.

¹¹King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

¹²Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

¹³He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁴David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness to all his people.

¹⁵Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

¹⁶and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Shavsha was scribe;

¹⁷and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

¹It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

²David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

³But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?"

⁴So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

⁵Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

⁶When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.

⁷So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

⁸When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.

⁹The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

¹⁰Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

¹¹The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

¹²He said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

¹³Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do that which seems good to him."

¹⁴So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

¹⁵When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

¹⁷It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

¹⁸The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.

¹⁹When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

¹Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.

²We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

³Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

⁴Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

⁵But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;

⁶who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:"

⁷to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;

⁸but to those who are self-seeking, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,

⁹oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹⁰But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹¹For there is no partiality with God.

¹²For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

¹³For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

¹⁴(for when Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

¹⁵in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)

¹⁶in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Christ Jesus.

¹⁷But if you call yourself a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,

¹⁸and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

¹⁹and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

²⁰a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

²¹You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who proclaim that a man should not steal, do you steal?

²²You who say a man should not commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

²³You who glory in the law, through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God?

²⁴For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," just as it is written.

²⁵For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

²⁶If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won't his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?

²⁷Won't the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?

²⁸For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;

²⁹but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Lord's Law.

²Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.

³Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.

⁴You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.

⁵Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!

⁶Then I wouldn't be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments.

⁷I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments.

⁸I will observe your statutes. Do not utterly forsake me.

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

¹⁰With my whole heart, I have sought you. Do not let me wander from your commandments.

¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

¹²Blessed are you, Lord. Teach me your statutes.

¹³With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.

¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways.

¹⁶I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.

¹⁷Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your Law.

¹⁹I am a stranger on the earth. Do not hide your commandments from me.

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.

²¹You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.

²²Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.

²³Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

²⁴Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors.

²⁵My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!

²⁶I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.

²⁷Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word.

²⁹Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your Law graciously!

³⁰I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your statutes, Lord. Do not let me be disappointed.

³²I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.

³³Teach me, Lord, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.

³⁴Give me understanding, and I will keep your Law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.

³⁵Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them.

³⁶Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain.

³⁷Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

³⁸Fulfill your promise to your servant, that you may be feared.

³⁹Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

⁴⁰Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.

⁴¹Let your loving kindness also come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your word.

⁴²So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word.

⁴³Do not snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances.

⁴⁴So I will obey your Law continually, forever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

⁴⁶I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.

⁴⁷I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.

⁴⁸I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.

⁵¹The arrogant mock me excessively, but I do not swerve from your Law.

⁵²I remember your ordinances of old, Lord, and have comforted myself.

⁵³Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your Law.

⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live.

⁵⁵I have remembered your name, Lord, in the night, and I obey your Law.

⁵⁶This is my way, that I keep your precepts.

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion. I promised to obey your words.

⁵⁸I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.

⁵⁹I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes.

⁶⁰I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.

⁶¹The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won't forget your Law.

⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.

⁶³I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.

⁶⁴The earth is full of your loving kindness, Lord. Teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵Do good to your servant, according to your word, Lord.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word.

⁶⁸You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.

⁷⁰Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your Law.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.

⁷²The Law you have spoken is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

⁷³Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵Lord, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

⁷⁶Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.

⁷⁷Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your Law is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.

⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.

⁸¹My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.

⁸²My eyes fail for your word. I say, "When will you comfort me?"

⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I do not forget your statutes.

⁸⁴How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your Law.

⁸⁶All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

⁸⁷They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.

⁸⁸Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

⁸⁹Lord, your word is settled in heaven forever.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.

⁹¹Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you.

⁹²Unless your Law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me.

⁹⁴I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless.

⁹⁷How I love your Law! It is my meditation all day.

⁹⁸Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.

¹⁰¹I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word.

¹⁰²I have not turned aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me.

¹⁰³How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances.

¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Lord, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Lord, teach me your ordinances.

¹⁰⁹My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won't forget your Law.

¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts.

¹¹¹I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.

¹¹³I hate double-minded men, but I love your Law.

¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.

¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.

¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.

¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.

¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.

¹²¹I have done what is just and righteous. Do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Ensure your servant's well-being. Do not let the proud oppress me.

¹²³My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.

¹²⁶It is time to act, Lord, for they break your Law.

¹²⁷Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.

¹²⁸Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.

¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.

¹³²Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.

¹³³Establish my footsteps in your word. Do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they do not observe your Law.

¹³⁷You are righteous, Lord. Your judgments are upright.

¹³⁸You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.

¹³⁹My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.

¹⁴⁰Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

¹⁴¹I am small and despised. I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your Law is truth.

¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.

¹⁴⁵I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Lord! I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.

¹⁴⁸My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.

¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Lord, according to your ordinances.

¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your Law.

¹⁵¹You are near, Lord. All your commandments are truth.

¹⁵²Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.

¹⁵³Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget your Law.

¹⁵⁴Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

¹⁵⁶Great are your tender mercies, Lord. Revive me according to your ordinances.

¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸I look at the faithless with loathing, because they do not observe your word.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Lord, according to your loving kindness.

¹⁶⁰All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

¹⁶¹Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

¹⁶²I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your Law.

¹⁶⁴Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.

¹⁶⁵Those who love your Law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.

¹⁶⁶I have hoped for your salvation, Lord. I have done your commandments.

¹⁶⁷My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before you, Lord. Give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.

¹⁷¹Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷²Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.

¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I have longed for your salvation, Lord. Your Law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.

¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

¹Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

²Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.

³A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

⁶One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

⁷Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

⁸As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

⁹Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

¹¹As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.

¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!"

¹⁴As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.

¹⁵The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

¹⁷Like one who grabs a dog's ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

¹⁸Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,

¹⁹is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"

²⁰For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

²¹As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

²²The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

²³Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

²⁴A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.

²⁵When his speech is charming, do not believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁷Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.