Habits

“If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit—

let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless—

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.

Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.

For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,

adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”