Ecclesiastes

13 The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the [true] God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole [obligation] of man. 14 For the [true] God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.

Explanation

11 Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad.

Council

8 If you see any oppression of the one of little means and the violent taking away of judgment and of righteousness in a jurisdictional district, do not be amazed over the affair, for one that is higher than the high one is watching, and there are those who are high above them.

Council

1 Guard your feet whenever you go to the house of the [true] God; and let there be a drawing near to hear, rather than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do, for they are not aware of doing what is bad.

2 Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for your heart, let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the [true] God. For the [true] God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why your words should prove to be few. 3 For a dream certainly comes in because of abundance of occupation, and the voice of a stupid one because of the abundance of words. 4 Whenever you vow a vow to God, do not hesitate to pay it, for there is no delight in the stupid ones. What you vow, pay. 5 Better is it that you vow not than that you vow and do not pay. 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, neither say before the angel that it was a mistake. Why should the [true] God become indignant on account of your voice and have to wreck the work of your hands? 7 For because of abundance [of occupation] there are dreams, and there are vanities and words in abundance. But fear the [true] God himself.

C

A Fact

1 A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born.

A Fact

1 A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born.

Prayer

7 Two things I have asked of you. Do not withhold them from me before I die. 8 Untruth and the lying word put far away from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Let me devour the food prescribed for me, 9 that I may not become satisfied and I actually deny [you] and say: “Who is Jehovah?” and that I may not come to poverty and I actually steal and assail the name of my God.

Council

Every saying of God is refined. He is a shield to those taking refuge in him. 6 Add nothing to his words, that he may not reprove you, and that you may not have to be proved a liar.

Behavior

18 Where there is no vision the people go unrestrained, but happy are they that are keeping the law.

Behavior

27 He that is giving to the one of little means will have no want, but he that is hiding his eyes will get many curses.

28 When the wicked rise up, a man conceals himself; but when they perish, the righteous become many.

working out problems

25 Trembling at men is what lays a snare, but he that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected

16 There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: 17 lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, 18 a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, 19 a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers. Proverbs

6 Go to the ant, you lazy one; see its ways and become wise. 7 Although it has no commander, officer or ruler, 8 it prepares its food even in the summer; it has gathered its food supplies even in the harvest. 9 How long, you lazy one, will you keep lying down? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little more sleep, a little more slumbering, a little more folding of the hands in lying down, 11 and your poverty will certainly come just like some rover, and your want like an armed man. Proverbs

16 There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: 17 lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, 18 a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, 19 a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers. Proverbs

22 “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago. 23 From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth. 24 When there were no watery deeps I was brought forth as with labor pains, when there were no springs heavily charged with water. 25 Before the mountains themselves had been settled down, ahead of the hills, I was brought forth as with labor pains, 26 when as yet he had not made the earth and the open spaces and the first part of the dust masses of the productive land. 27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he decreed a circle upon the face of the watery deep, 28 when he made firm the cloud masses above, when he caused the fountains of the watery deep to be strong, 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order, when he decreed the foundations of the earth, 30 then I came to be beside him as a master worker, and I came to be the one he was specially fond of day by day, I being glad before him all the time, 31 being glad at the productive land of his earth, and the things I was fond of were with the sons of men. (this, concerning Christ Jesus) Proverbs

25 There exists a way that is upright before a man, but the ways of death are the end of it afterward Proverbs

24 There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces, but there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother Proverbs

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection Proverbs

It is the foolishness of an earthling man that distorts his way, and so his heart becomes enraged against Jehovah himself Proverbs

13 As for anyone stopping up his ear from the complaining cry of the lowly one, he himself also will call and not be answered. Proverbs

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous one; and the one dealing treacherously takes the place of the upright ones Proverbs

23 He that is keeping his mouth and his tongue is keeping his soul from distresses Proverbs

The rich one and the one of little means have met each other. The Maker of them all is Jehovah. Proverbs

24 Do not have companionship with anyone given to anger; and with a man having fits of rage you must not enter in, 25 that you may not get familiar with his paths and certainly take a snare for your soul Proverbs

3 Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself, but the inexperienced have passed along and must suffer the penalty Proverbs

13 The lazy one has said: “There is a lion outside! In the midst of the public squares I shall be murdered!” Proverbs (there are bear in those mountains! We can not hike!)

17 Make your foot rare at the house of your fellowman, that he may not have his sufficiency of you and certainly hate you Proverbs

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great

Robert Frost

God decrees
and executes
mercy and justice

I am just a mist
appearing
and then
disappearing.

Exodus

18 In time the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them: “Why is it YOU have done this thing, in that YOU preserved the male children alive?” 19 In turn the midwives said to Phar´aoh: “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. Because they are lively, they have already given birth before the midwife can come in to them.”

20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people kept growing more

Joseph-interpreter of dreams

Genesis 41

And it came about at the end of two full years that Phar´aoh was dreaming and here he was standing by the river Nile. 2 And here ascending out of the river Nile were seven cows beautiful in appearance and fat-fleshed, and they went feeding among the Nile grass. 3 And here there were seven other cows ascending after them out of the river Nile, ugly in appearance and thin-fleshed, and they took their stand alongside the cows by the bank of the river Nile. 4 Then the cows that were ugly in appearance and thin-fleshed began to eat up the seven cows that were beautiful in appearance and fat. At this Phar´aoh woke up.

5 However, he went back to sleep and dreamed a second time. And here there were seven ears of grain coming up on one stalk, fat and good. 6 And here there were seven ears of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, growing up after them. 7 And the thin ears of grain began to swallow up the seven fat and full ears of grain. At this Phar´aoh woke up and here it was a dream.

8 And it developed in the morning that his spirit became agitated. So he sent and called all the magic-practicing priests of Egypt and all her wise men, and Phar´aoh went on to relate his dreams to them. But there was no interpreter of them for Phar´aoh.

9 Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Phar´aoh, saying: “My sins I am mentioning today. 10 Phar´aoh was indignant at his servants. So he committed me to the jail of the house of the chief of the bodyguard, both me and the chief of the bakers. 11 After that we both dreamed a dream in the one night, both I and he. We dreamed each one his dream with its own interpretation. 12 And there was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, a servant of the chief of the bodyguard. When we related them to him, he proceeded to interpret our dreams to us. He interpreted to each according to his dream. 13 And it turned out that just as he had interpreted to us so it happened. Me he returned to my office, but him he hanged.”

14 And Phar´aoh proceeded to send and to call Joseph, that they might bring him quickly from the prison hole. Hence he shaved and changed his mantles and went in to Phar´aoh. 15 Then Phar´aoh said to Joseph: “I have dreamed a dream, but there is no interpreter of it. Now I myself have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” 16 At this Joseph answered Phar´aoh, saying: “I need not be considered! God will announce welfare to Phar´aoh.”

17 And Phar´aoh went on to speak to Joseph: “In my dream here I was standing on the bank of the river Nile. 18 And here ascending out of the river Nile were seven cows fat-fleshed and beautiful in form, and they began to feed among the Nile grass. 19 And here there were seven other cows ascending after them, poor and very bad in form and thin-fleshed. For badness I have not seen the like of them in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the skinny and bad cows began to eat up the first seven fat cows. 21 So these came into their bellies, and yet it could not be known that they had come into their bellies, as their appearance was bad just as at the start. At that I woke up.

22 “After that I saw in my dream and here there were seven ears of grain coming up on one stalk, full and good. 23 And here there were seven ears of grain shriveled, thin, scorched by the east wind, growing up after them. 24 And the thin ears of grain began to swallow up the seven good ears of grain. So I stated it to the magic-practicing priests, but there was none telling me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Phar´aoh: “The dream of Phar´aoh is but one. What the [true] God is doing he has told to Phar´aoh. 26 The seven good cows are seven years. Likewise the seven good ears of grain are seven years. The dream is but one. 27 And the seven skinny and bad cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, will prove to be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing that I have spoken to Phar´aoh: What the [true] God is doing he has caused Phar´aoh to see.

29 “Here there are seven years coming with great plenty in all the land of Egypt. 30 But seven years of famine will certainly arise after them, and all the plenty in the land of Egypt will certainly be forgotten and the famine will simply consume the land. 31 And the plenty once in the land will not be known as a result of that famine afterward, because it will certainly be very severe. 32 And the fact that the dream was repeated to Phar´aoh twice means that the thing is firmly established on the part of the [true] God, and the [true] God is speeding to do it.

33 “So now let Phar´aoh look for a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Phar´aoh act and appoint overseers over the land, and he must take up one fifth of the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty. 35 And let them collect all the foodstuffs of these coming good years, and let them pile up grain under Phar´aoh’s hand as foodstuffs in the cities, and they must safeguard it. 36 And the foodstuffs must serve as a supply for the land for the seven famine years, which will develop in the land of Egypt, in order that the land may not be cut off by the famine.”

37 Well, the thing proved to be good in the eyes of Phar´aoh and of all his servants. 38 So Phar´aoh said to his servants: “Can another man be found like this one in whom the spirit of God is?” 39 After that Phar´aoh said to Joseph: “Since God has caused you to know all this, there is no one as discreet and wise as you are. 40 You will personally be over my house, and all my people will obey you implicitly. Only as to the throne shall I be greater than you.” 41 And Phar´aoh added to Joseph: “See, I do place you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 With that Phar´aoh removed his signet ring from his own hand and put it upon Joseph’s hand and clothed him with garments of fine linen and placed a necklace of gold about his neck. 43 Moreover, he had him ride in the second chariot of honor that he had, so that they should call out ahead of him, “A·vrékh!” thus putting him over all the land of Egypt.

44 And Phar´aoh further said to Joseph: “I am Phar´aoh, but without your authorization no man may lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 After that Phar´aoh called Joseph’s name Zaph´e·nath-pa·ne´ah and gave him As´e·nath the daughter of Pot·i´phe·ra the priest of On as a wife. And Joseph began to go out over the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Phar´aoh the king of Egypt.

Then Joseph went out from before Phar´aoh and toured about in all the land of Egypt. 47 And during the seven years of plenty the land went on producing by the handfuls. 48 And he kept collecting all the foodstuffs of the seven years that came upon the land of Egypt and he would put the foodstuffs in the cities. The foodstuffs of the field that was round about a city he put in the midst of it. 49 And Joseph continued piling up grain in very great quantity, like the sand of the sea, until finally they gave up counting it, because it was without number.

50 And before the year of the famine arrived there were born to Joseph two sons, whom As´e·nath the daughter of Pot·i´phe·ra the priest of On bore to him. 51 So Joseph called the name of the firstborn Ma·nas´seh, because, to quote him, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all the house of my father.” 52 And the name of the second he called E´phra·im, because, to quote him, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my wretchedness.”

53 And the seven years of the plenty that had obtained in the land of Egypt gradually ended, 54 and, in turn, the seven years of the famine started to come, just as Joseph had said. And the famine developed in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was found bread. 55 Finally all the land of Egypt became famished and the people began to cry to Phar´aoh for bread. Then Phar´aoh said to all the Egyptians: “Go to Joseph. Whatever he says to YOU, YOU are to do.” 56 And the famine obtained over all the surface of the earth. Then Joseph began to open up all the grain depositories that were among them and to sell to the Egyptians, as the famine got a strong grip on the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy from Joseph, because the famine had a strong grip on all the earth.

Joseph imprisioned/able to prosper

17 Then she spoke to him according to these words, saying: “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came to me to make me a laughingstock. 18 But it followed that as soon as I raised my voice and began to cry out, he then left his garment beside me and went fleeing outside.” 19 The result was that as soon as his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying: “Like this and this your servant did to me,” his anger blazed. 20 So Joseph’s master took him and gave him over to the prison house, the place where the prisoners of the king were kept under arrest, and he continued there in the prison house.
21 However, Jehovah continued with Joseph and kept extending loving-kindness to him and granting him to find favor in the eyes of the chief officer of the prison house. 22 So the chief officer of the prison house gave over into Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison house; and everything that they were doing there he proved to be the one having it done. 23 The chief officer of the prison house was looking after absolutely nothing that was in his hand, because Jehovah was with [Joseph] and what he was doing Jehovah was making it turn out successful.

Joseph came to be over all Potiphar's house

1 As for Joseph, he was brought down to Egypt, and Pot´i·phar, a court official of Phar´aoh, the chief of the bodyguard, an Egyptian, got to buy him from the hand of the Ish´ma·el·ites who had brought him down there. 2 But Jehovah proved to be with Joseph, so that he turned out a successful man and came to be over the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 And his master got to see that Jehovah was with him and that everything he was doing Jehovah was making turn out successful in his hand.
4 And Joseph kept finding favor in his eyes and waited upon him continually, so that he appointed him over his house, and all that was his he gave into his hand. 5 And it followed that from the time he appointed him over his house and in charge of all that was his Jehovah kept blessing the house of the Egyptian due to Joseph, and Jehovah’s blessing came to be upon all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Finally he left everything that was his in Joseph’s hand; and he did not know what was with him at all except the bread he was eating. Moreover, Joseph grew to be beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance.

Genesis

27 And the boys got bigger, and E´sau became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, but Jacob a blameless man, dwelling in tents.

herdsmen

Hence A´bram said to Lot: “Please, do not let any quarreling continue between me and you and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we men are brothers.

to obey god

1 And Jehovah proceeded to say to A´bram: “Go your way out of your country and from your relatives and from the house of your father to the country that I shall show you; 2 and I shall make a great nation out of you and I shall bless you and I will make your name great; and prove yourself a blessing. 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and him that calls down evil upon you I shall curse, and all the families of the ground will certainly bless themselves by means of you.”

Babel

1 Now all the earth continued to be of one language and of one set of words. 2 And it came about that in their journeying eastward they eventually discovered a valley plain in the land of Shi´nar, and they took up dwelling there. 3 And they began to say, each one to the other: “Come on! Let us make bricks and bake them with a burning process.” So brick served as stone for them, but bitumen served as mortar for them. 4 They now said: “Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth.”
5 And Jehovah proceeded to go down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built. 6 After that Jehovah said: “Look! They are one people and there is one language for them all, and this is what they start to do.

the great city

8 And Cush became father to Nim´rod. He made the start in becoming a mighty one in the earth. 9 He displayed himself a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah. That is why there is a saying: “Just like Nim´rod a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom came to be Ba´bel and E´rech and Ac´cad and Cal´neh, in the land of Shi´nar. 11 Out of that land he went forth into As·syr´i·a and set himself to building Nin´e·veh and Re·ho´both-Ir and Ca´lah 12 and Re´sen between Nin´e·veh and Ca´lah: this is the great city

command to work on the ark

13 After that God said to Noah: “The end of all flesh has come before me, because the earth is full of violence as a result of them; and here I am bringing them to ruin together with the earth. 14 Make for yourself an ark out of wood of a resinous tree. You will make compartments in the ark, and you must cover it inside and outside with tar. 15 And this is how you will make it: three hundred cubits the length of the ark, fifty cubits its width, and thirty cubits its height. 16 You will make a tso´har [roof; or, window] for the ark, and you will complete it to the extent of a cubit upward, and the entrance of the ark you will put in its side; you will make it with a lower [story], a second [story] and a third [story].
17 “And as for me, here I am bringing the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens. Everything that is in the earth will expire. 18 And I do establish my covenant with you; and you must go into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living creature of every sort of flesh, two of each, you will bring into the ark to preserve them alive with you. Male and female they will be. 20 Of the flying creatures according to their kinds and of the domestic animals according to their kinds, of all moving animals of the ground according to their kinds, two of each will go in there to you to preserve them alive. 21 And as for you, take for yourself every sort of food that is eaten; and you must gather it to yourself, and it must serve as food for you and for them.”
22 And Noah proceeded to do according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so.

And Abel came to be a herder of sheep, but Cain became a cultivator of the ground.

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3:10 (New International Version)
10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Genesis 2

17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
20 Adam [c] named his wife Eve, [d] because she would become the mother of all the living.

So Adam became a farmer and Eve a mother.

Genesis 2

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Adam was ment to be a gardener.

An excellent wife

10An (A)excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far (B)above jewels. 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. 12She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. 14She is like (C)merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. 15She (D)rises also while it is still night And (E)gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. 16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17She (F)girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. 18She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. 19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. 20She (G)extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are (H)clothed with scarlet. 22She makes (I)coverings for herself; Her clothing is (J)fine linen and (K)purple. 23Her husband is known (L)in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. 24She makes (M)linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. 25Strength and (N)dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. 26She (O)opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the (P)bread of idleness.

Adam first/Eve deceived

11 Let a woman learn in silence with full submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 Also, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and came to be in transgression. 15 However, she will be kept safe through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and sanctification along with soundness of mind.

woman out of man/man through woman

11 Besides, in connection with [the] Lord neither is woman without man nor man without woman. 12 For just as the woman is out of the man, so also the man is through the woman; but all things are out of God.

final part of days, beat swords to plowshares, each one under his vine

1 And it must occur in the final part of the days [that] the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it peoples must stream. 2 And many nations will certainly go and say: “Come, YOU people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem. 3 And he will certainly render judgment among many peoples, and set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. They will not lift up sword, nation against nation, neither will they learn war anymore. 4 And they will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making [them] tremble; for the very mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken [it].
5 For all the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god; but we, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.

'the nations sacrifice to demons.'

20 No; but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God;

'all these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.'

8 Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” 11 Then

'a thousand years as one day.'

8 However, let this one fact not be escaping YOUR notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 10 Yet Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in

'he that would love life and see good days, let him restrain

10 For, “he that would love life and see good days, let him restrain his tongue from what is bad and [his] lips from speaking deception, 11 but let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For [the] eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their supplication; but [the] face of Jehovah is against those doing bad things.”

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

They perish because they refuse to love the truth....stand firm

5Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm

'lead a quiet life, mind your own business and work with your hands

11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

having a form of godliness but denying its power

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

I think that we are given a lot of information in the Bible about what is really in us. We are corrupted, we are far from perfect. We need to be careful, keep our distance from one another. Try to do good but still realize that if we see short comings or cruelty in others, it is surely in ourselves. As Jesus said, 'take out the rafter in our own eye and we will see how to take out the rafter in our brother's eye. Each person must do it for themselves. We should not presume that we can do it for our brother.

'for he himself knew what was in man.'

23 However, when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, at its festival, many people put their faith in his name, viewing his signs that he was performing. 24 But Jesus himself was not entrusting himself to them because of his knowing them all 25 and because he was in no need to have anyone bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

being a good neighbor

currenteventsinphophsey.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 3, 2009

Well, I have been pondering the different ways that I can be a good neighbor. The idea of involving myself with a stranger, taking him or her to a shelter, feeding and protecting them and expecting no pay back is something that I think a lot about.As far as not stealing, not murdering and not coveting my brother's house-I think I have a handle on those things......

the parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Now, look! a certain man versed in the Law rose up, to test him out, and said: “Teacher, by doing what shall I inherit everlasting life?” 26 He said to him: “What is written in the Law? How do you read?” 27 In answer he said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind,’ and, ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 He said to him: “You answered correctly; ‘keep on doing this and you will get life.’”
29 But, wanting to prove himself righteous, the man said to Jesus: “Who really is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jer´i·cho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead. 31 Now, by coincidence, a certain priest was going down over that road, but, when he saw him, he went by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise, a Levite also, when he got down to the place and saw him, went by on the opposite side. 33 But a certain Sa·mar´i·tan traveling the road came upon him and, at seeing him, he was moved with pity. 34 So he approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them. Then he mounted him upon his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two de·nar´i·i, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I come back here.’ 36 Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?” 37 He said: “The one that acted mercifully toward him.” Jesus then said to him: “Go your way and be doing the same yourself.”

'love is the law's fulfillment.'

Do not you people be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another; for he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled law. For the (law code), "You must not commit adultery, You must not murder, You must not steal, You must not covet," and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, "You must love your neighbor as yourself." Love does not work evil to one's neighbor; therefore love is the law's fulfillment.

Your heavenly father knows that you need these things

"On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your souls as as to what you will eat or what you will drink or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his lifespan? Also on the matter of clothing, why are you anxious? Take a lesson from the lillies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil nor do they spin but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. If now God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? So never be anxious and say, 'What are we to eat?' or, 'What are we to put on?' For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

"Keep on then seeking first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.

"Peace and security!"

Now as for the times and the seasons brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. For you yourselves know quite well that Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: "Peace and security!" then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman and they will by no means excape. But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night or to darkness.

Daniel 12

"At that time, the great prince, Michael, who stands beside the sons of your people, will appear. It will be a time of trouble, the like of which has never been since the nation came into being. At that time, your people will be rescued, all who are found inscribed in the book. Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence. And the knowledgeable will be radiant like the bright expanse of sky, and those who lead the many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.

"But you, Daniel, keep the words secret, and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will range far and wide and knowledge will increase."

Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on one bank of the river, the other on the other bank of the river. One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the water of the river, "How long until the end of these awful things?" Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river, swear by the Ever-Living One as he lifted his right hand and his left hand to heaven;"For a time, times and half a time; and when the breaking of the power of the holy people comes to an end, then shall all these things be fulfilled."

I heard and did not understand, so I said, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?" He said, 'Go, Daniel, for these words are secret and sealed to the time of the end. Many will be purified and purged and refined; the wicked will act wickedly and none of the wicked will understand; but the knowledgeable will understand. (From the time the regular offering is abolished, and an appalling abomination is set up--it will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy the one who waits and reaches one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days) But you, go on to the end; you shall rest, and arise to your destiny at the end of the days."

Daniel 2:36

"Such was the dream, and we will now tell the king its meaning. You, O king-king of kings, to whom the God of Heaven has given kingdom, power, might, and glory; into whose hands He has given men, wild beasts, and the fowl of heaven, wherever they may dwell; and to whom He has given dominion over them all-you are the head of gold. But another kingdom will arise after you, inferior to yours; then yet a third kingdom, of bronze, which will rule over the whole earth. But the fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; just as iron crushes and shatters everything--and like iron that smashes--so it crush and smash all these. You saw the feet and the toes, part potter's clay and part iron; that means it will be a divided kingdom; it will have only some of the stability of iron, inasmuch as you saw iron mixed with common clay. And the toes were part iron and part clay; that the kingdom will be in part strong and in part brittle. You saw iron mixed with common clay; that means: they shall intermingle with the offspring of men, but shall not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will extablish a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, a kingdom that shall not be transferred to another people. It will crush and wipe out all these kingdoms, but shall itself last forever--just as you saw how a stone was hewn from the mountain, not by hands, and crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God has made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is sure and its interpretation reliable."

Genesis 3:14

Then the LORD GOD said to the serpent,

"Because you did this,

More cursed shall you be

Then all cattle

And all the wild beasts:

On your belly shall you crawl

And dirt shall you eat

All the days of your life.

I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between her offspring and hers;

They shall strike at your head,

And you shall strike at their heel."

And to the woman He said,

"I will make most severe

Your pangs in childbearing;

In pain shall you bear children.

Yet your urge shall be for your husband,

And he will rule over you."

To Adam He said,"Because you did as your wife said

And ate of the tree about which I commanded you, 'You

Shall not eat of it,'

Cursed be the ground because of you;

By toil you shall eat of it

All the days of your life:

Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you.

But your food shall be the grasses of the field;

By the sweat of your brow

Shall you get bread to eat,

Until you return to the ground-

For from it you were taken.

For dust you are,

And to dust you shall return."

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