"If a soul ... lie unto his neighbour ... or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it ... then ...
he shall restore that which he took ... or the lost thing which he found ... and shall add the fifth part more thereto."
What is stolen or wrongfully acquired should be returned to the owner. 6:2-5
"Thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife." 18:20
Leave some grapes on the vine for travelers and the poor. 19:10
"Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy."
15:11
Judges and officers should strive to be impartial and should never take a bribe. 16:18-19
Look out for your neighbor's animals and protect them from harm. 22:1-4
Be careful when making a roof to ensure that no one falls off the edge. 22:8
Don't return runaway slaves to their masters. Let them live with you in peace and freedom.
23:15-16
Do not oppress the poor, whether they be slaves, neighbors, or strangers.
24:14-15
"It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."
Be kind to widows, orphans, fatherless children and strangers. Share whatever you have with them.
24:17-21
"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Let the animal eat while it works.
25:4
"Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight."
Be honest when you deal with others. Don't cheat. 25:13-15
"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."
Job's wife rightly says that if Job is to
keep his integrity, then he should curse God (for playing vicious games with
Satan) and die. 2:9
"Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?" 13:7
"Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? ... Man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more,
they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." 14:10-12
Job says that humans perish at death like their own dung. Well, one might fault him for his choice of words, but the idea seems
sound enough. 20:7
"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor
and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." 82:3-4
Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee?"
People don't survive their own deaths. Dead people are not only merely dead, they are really most sincerely dead. 88:10-12
"The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." 115:17
"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of
thy mother." 1:8
"Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding." 2:2
"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man." 2:10-12
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."
A special anthem was composed from these words for Darwin's funeral at Westminster Abbey. 3:13
"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power
of thine hand to do it." 3:27
"He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of
understanding holdeth his peace." 11:12
"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit
concealeth the matter. 11:13
"The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel
troubleth his own flesh." Okay, I don't know about the soul stuff, but I
like the general idea. 11:17
"He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." A nice thought
and a
great movie. 11:29
"He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." 18:9
"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." 18:11
"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is
humility." 18:12
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame
unto him." 18:13
"The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise
seeketh knowledge." 18:15
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
18:24
"Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool." 19:1
"The soul be without knowledge, it is not good." 19:2
"Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour." 19:4
"Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts." 19:6
"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." 19:8
"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." 19:11
"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." 19:15
"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise." 19:20
"The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar." 19:22
"A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again"
I'm not sure what this means exactly, but I like to quote it to my son. 19:24
"Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." 19:27
"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." 20:4
"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." 20:11
"Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty." 20:13
"The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." 20:15
"Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel." 20:17
"He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle
not with him that flattereth with his lips." 20:19
"When the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge." 21:11
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." 21:13
"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." 21:16
"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." 21:23
"Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath." 21:24
"The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour." 21:25
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." 22:1
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will
not depart from it." 22:6
"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the
words of knowledge." 23:12
"My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice." 23:15
"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when
she is old." 23:22
Find the truth and hang on to it; Value wisdom, instruction, and understanding 23:23
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 24:1
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 24:5
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." 24:10
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul." 24:13-14
"Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad
when he stumbleth." 24:17
"Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked." 24:19
"Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not
with thy lips." 24:28
"Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the
man according to his work." 24:30-32
"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,
and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it,
and received instruction." 24:29
"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end." 25:8
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." 25:11
"As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." 25:12
"Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain." 25:14
"Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it." 25:16
"Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee." 25:17
"A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow." 25:18
"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." 25:19
"As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart."
25:20
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head" 25:21-22
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." 25:25
"It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory." 25:27
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." 25:28
"As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool." 26:1
"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool
than of him." 26:12
"As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed."
26:14
"The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it
again to his mouth." 26:15
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a
reason. 26:16
"He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like
one that taketh a dog by the ears." 26:17
Don't stir up trouble with rumours and gossip. 26:20-22
"He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
When he speaketh fair, believe him not." 26:24-25
"Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it
will return upon him." 26:27
"A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering
mouth worketh ruin." 26:28
"Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may
bring forth." 27:1
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and
not thine own lips." 27:2
"Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?" 27:4
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet." 29:5
"The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked
regardeth not to know it." 29:7
"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till
afterwards." 29:11
"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool
than of him." 29:20
"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in
transgression." 29:22
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit." 29:23
As a sailor and birdwatcher, I agree with this proverb that says that the way a ship sails
and an eagle flies are two of the most wonderful things. 30:18-19
"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and
forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." 31:6-7
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (NIV) 31:8-9
"That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered." 1:15
"I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit."
1:17
"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." 1:18
"Wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness." 2:13
"The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and ... one event happeneth to them all."
2:14
"There is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come
shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool." 2:16
"The work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit." 2:17
"I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me."
2:18
" And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have
laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity." 2:19
"There is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein
shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil." 2:21
"For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?"
2:22
"For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity."
2:23
"There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour."
2:24
"To everything there is a season...." Some nice poetry and a great Byrds song. ("Turn, Turn, Turn" -- written by Pete
Seeger) 3:1-8
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" 3:1
"A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" 3:2
"A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;" 3:3
"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;" 3:4
"A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;" 3:5
"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;" 3:6
"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" 3:7
"A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." 3:8
"There is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life." 3:12
"Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour" 3:13
"That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other;
yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity." 3:19
"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." 3:20
"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" 3:21
"There is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works." 3:22
"Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works."
3:22
"Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit." 4:6
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour." 4:9
"For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another
to help him up." 4:10
"Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?" 4:11
"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." 4:12
"Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king." 4:13
"A fool's voice is known by multitude of words." 5:3
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
5:10
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour,
which he may carry away in his hand." 5:15
"It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun
all the days of his life." 5:18
"If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years ... and his soul be not filled with good ...
an untimely birth is better than he." 6:3
"For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness." 6:4
"Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?" 6:6
"For who knoweth what is good for man in this life ... who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?"
6:12
"A good name is better than precious ointment." 7:1
"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." 7:5
"The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." 7:8
"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." 7:9
"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this."
7:10
"For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."
7:12
Don't pay attention to everything people say. 7:21
"I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things." 7:25
"A man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry." 8:15
"All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked ... they go to the dead."
9:2-3
"For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." 9:4
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of
them is forgotten." 9:5
"Their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing
that is done under the sun." 9:6
"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart." 9:7
"Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest." 9:9
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,
in the grave, whither thou goest." 9:10
" I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise,
nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."
9:11
"For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so
are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." 9:12
"Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard."
9:16
"The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools." 9:17
"Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good." 9:18
"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in
reputation for wisdom and honour." 10:1
"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." 11:7
"If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity." 11:8
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,
and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes." 11:9
"Remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." 11:10
"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." 12:8
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." 2:4
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!" 5:20
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" 5:21
"Woe unto them that ... turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the
poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!" 10:1-2
"Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die." 22:13
"The vile person shall be no more called liberal ... For the vile person will speak villany,
and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy ... to make empty the soul of the hungry."
Republicans are vile people. 32:5-6
"The instruments also of the churl [Republican] are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to
destroy the poor with lying words." 32:7
"The liberal deviseth liberal things;
and by liberal things shall he stand." -- A Bible verse for Howard Dean and the US Democratic Party!
32:8
"All flesh is grass."
Since all animals, including humans, survive by eating plants or other animals that have eaten
plants, it is true that "all flesh is grass." 40:6
The people of Israel and Judah finally look behind the curtain and see that there is no god and the prophets are liars.
5:12-13
"Oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed
not innocent blood." 7:6
"Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
Don't be afraid of gods. They can't hurt you. They can't help you, either, because they don't exit. (Just like Yahweh!)
10:5
Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people.
22:3
For some strange reason, God tells the people to do something good: free their slaves.
And the people do that, for a while, anyway. But then they retrieved them again. 34:8-16
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Well, it's a nice
thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a "God of Peace" (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a "man of war"? (Ex.15:3) 4:3
"O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to
love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" 6:8
(Well, it's a nice thought, but there are a few things more that Micah forgot to mention. Like you must
believe certain unlikely things or you will be tormented forever in
hell (Mk.16:16, Jn.3:18, 36); you
must kill witches Ex.22:18, homosexuals
Lev.20:13, those who believe differently than you
Dt.13:6-10, disobedient children
Dt.21:18-21, etc.6:8)
"Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his
brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor;
and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." 7:9-10
"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his
neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against
his neighbour; and love no false oath." 8:16-17
Jesus lists the "ten commandments," but his list has only six, and the sixth is not one of the ten. The
commandments given by Jesus are secular, not religious, in nature. 19:18
Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 22:17-21
Jesus quotes Lev.19:18: "Love thy neighbor as
thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible.
22:39
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." 25:35
"All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." 26:52
"If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." 9:35
When Jesus lists the "ten" commandments, he only mentions five -- the humanistic ones that make no mention of
God. He also gives one that is not included in the so-called ten commandments: "defraud not." Just where he got this one is
anyone's guess. 10:19
Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 12:14-17
The people asked John the Baptist what they need to do to avoid hell. He told them to give their excess
food and clothes to the poor. 3:10-11
Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely. 3:14
Love you enemies; do good to those who hate you. 6:27
The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. 6:31-34
"Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his
enemies to hell. (Mk.16:16) 6:35
"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Well I'm glad Jesus thinks we should be merciful.
But the Old Testament God is a strange role model for mercy! (See 1 Sam.15:2-3 for an
example of the OT God's mercy.) 6:36
Don't judge or condemn others. Forgive those who have offended you. 6:37
Jesus warns against hypocrisy. The Christian right should pay more attention to this verse. 6:41-42
"Search the scriptures."
Good advice. Because those that search the scriptures are sure to reject them. 5:39
Jesus tells those who'd like to stone to death an adulteress that whoever among them that is without sin should
"cast the first stone." Good advice -- but it directly contradicts the teachings of the Old Testament
(Lev.20:20). If that
wasn't a good law then why did God make it? Has he since changed his mind? Shouldn't it then be removed (along
with most of the OT) from the bible? 8:7
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another." If this is what it takes to be a Christian, then count
me in. Unfortunately, Christians often take Jesus' commandment to mean that Christians should love other, like-minded Christians,
and to hell with everybody else. 15:12, 17
Pilate asked Jesus a very good question: "What is truth?" 18:38
Don't fight, be humble, and look after the needs of others. 2:3-4
"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
4:8
"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies." If we follow this advice we would ignore
most of the Bible -- especially the genealogies found in Gen.10,
1 Chr.1-9, Mt.1, and Lk.3. 1:4
"Refuse ... old wives' fables." What about old husbands' fables? Old Bible fables? 4:7
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 6:7
"Having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 6:8
"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition." 6:9
Help others that are in need; don't just wish them well. This is good advice, though it's unfortunate that James
restricted this help to "brothers". Did he mean by this that you only need to help fellow believers?
2:15-16
James ridicules those who say salvation is by faith alone. He says the devils believe in God. Will their faith
save them? 2:19
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of
a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." 3:13
"If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." 3:14
"The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 3:18
"Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It
is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (All we are is dust
in the wind.) 4:14
Paul's epistles are hard to understand. And that those who try to understand them, as with the
other scriptures, do so "unto their own destruction. 3:16
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