Good Stuff in the Bible
It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies. -- Mark Twain, Letters From the Earth
There's nothing good in Genesis.
"Honor thy father and thy mother." 20:12
"Thou shalt not kill." 20:13
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." 20:14
"Thou shalt not steal." 20:15
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." 20:16
Be kind to strangers, widows, and fatherless children. 22:21-22
Value the truth; don't lie. 23:1
Don't do what everyone else does, if what they do is wrong. 23:2
Be kind to your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 23:4-5
Treat the poor fairly. 23:6
Be honest. Don't kill the innocent. 23:7
Don't mistreat strangers. 23:9
Every seventh year the Israelites were to leave their fields unharvested, so that the poor would have something to eat. 23:11
"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
Don't steal or lie 19:11
"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired." 19:13
"Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind." 19:14
Don't gossip. 19:16
Don't hate people. 19:17
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." 19:18
Respect your elders. 19:32
Be kind to strangers. 19:33-34
Treat others fairly. Don't cheat. 19:35-36
To help feed the poor and strangers, farmers should not harvest the corners of their fields. 23:22
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
This verse is inscribed on the Liberty Bell and was used by abolitionists in their fight against slavery. Leviticus 25:10
Do not oppress one another. 25:17
"If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee." 25:35
There's nothing good in Numbers.
Judge others fairly, Israelite and stranger, rich or poor, powerful or weak. 1:16-17
"Honor thy father and thy mother." 5:16
"Thou shalt not kill." 5:17
Don't commit adultery. 5:18
Don't steal. 5:19
Don't lie. 5:20
"Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." 10:19
Help the poor. 15:7-8
"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 If a person kills someone unintentionally then he or she can flee to a city of refuge to escape being killed by the "revenger of blood."
I guess this is (sort of) good--about as good as it gets in the Bible anyway. But it would be better to declare such a person innocent, assuming no criminal negligence involved, rather than creating a city for the person to flee to. And the idea of a "revenger of blood" is just plain creepy. 19:15-16
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
Take care of those who need help. 26:12-13
Don't misguide the blind or mistreat strangers, orphans, or widows. (And all the people shall say, Amen.) 26:18-19
There's nothing good in Joshua.
There's nothing good in Judges.
There's nothing good in Ruth.
There's nothing good in 1 Samuel.
There's nothing good in 2 Samuel.
There's nothing good in 1 Kings.
There's nothing good in 2 Kings.
There's nothing good in 1 Chronicles.
There's nothing good in 2 Chronicles.
There's nothing good in Ezra.
There's nothing good in Nehemiah.
There's nothing good in Esther.
"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
All we are is dust in the wind. 7:7-9
"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
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." 34:13-14
"Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore." 37:27
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." 38:7
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor." 41:1
"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 soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." 120:6-7
"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
A beautiful proverb about mercy and truth. 3:3
Some nice words about wisdom. 3:13-18
"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
Help your neighbor, if you can. 3:28
Don't devise plots against your neighbor, fight without cause, or imitate an oppressor. 3:29-31
"The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools." 3:35
"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not." 4:5
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." 4:7
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." 4:14-15
"The path of the just is as the shining light." 4:18
Speak plainly and honestly to others. 4:24
"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee." 4:25
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." 4:26
"Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." 4:27
"Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.... Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love." 5:18-19
"Why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?" 5:20
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. 6:30
Wisdom is better than wealth. Nothing else compares with it. 8:11
"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." 10:12
"In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found." 10:13
"Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." 10:14
"He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool." 10:18
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame." 11:2
"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
"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge." 12:1
Be kind to animals. (Don't eat them.) 12:10
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." 12:15
"He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit." 12:17
"The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." 12:19
"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." 12:25
"A wise son heareth his father's instruction." 13:1
"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." 13:7
"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." 13:12
"The law of the wise is a fountain of life." 13:14
"Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly." 13:16
"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil." 13:19
"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." 13:20
"A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies." 14:5
"Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." 14:7
"The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit." 14:8
"The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy." 14:10
"Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness." 14:13
"The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." 14:15
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident." 14:16
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated." 14:17
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." 14:18
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends." 14:20
"He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." 14:21
"Do they not err that devise evil?" 14:22
"A deceitful witness speaketh lies." 14:25
"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." 14:29
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known." 14:33
"A soft answer turneth away wrath." 15:1
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." 15:2
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." 15:4
"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so." 15:7
"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." 15:13
"The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness." 15:14
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." 15:15
"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." 15:17
"A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." 15:18
"The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns." 15:19
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom." 15:21
"The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise." 15:31
"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding." 15:32
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!" 16:16
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." 16:18
"The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning." 16:21
"Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly." 16:22
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips." 16:23
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." 16:24
"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends." 16:28
"The hoary head [gray hair] is a crown of glory." 16:31
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." 16:32
"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." 17:17
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." 17:22
"Wisdom is before him that hath understanding." 17:24
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." 17:27
"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." 17:28
"A fool hath no delight in understanding." 18:2
"The wellspring of wisdom [is] as a flowing brook." 18:4
"A fool's mouth is his destruction." 18:7
"The words of a talebearer are as wounds." 18:8
"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
"Hear the words of the wise." 22:7
"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." 22:9
"He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."
Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted. 22:22
"Labour not to be rich." 23:4
"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
"A soft tongue breaketh the bone." 25:15
"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
"Open rebuke is better than secret love." 27:5
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." 27:6
"The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." 27:7
"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." 27:9
"Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not." 27:10a
"Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off." 27:10b
"My son, be wise, and make my heart glad." 27:11
"Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him." 27:22
"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." Take care of your animals. 27:23
"By a man of understanding and knowledge the state ... shall be prolonged." 28:2
"Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." 28:6
"The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out." 28:11
"As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people." 28:15
"Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father." 29:3
"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
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." 29:18
"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
"Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." 1:3
"The place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again."
Good description of the water cycle. 1:7
"All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." 1:8
"That which is done, is that which shall be done." 1:9
"There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after." 1:11
"All is vanity and vexation of spirit." 1:14
"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
"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
"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." 5:5
"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
"Wisdom is profitable to direct." 10:10
"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."10:12
"A fool also is full of words." 10:14
"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
"Much study is a weariness of the flesh." 12:12
There's nothing good in the Song of Solomon.
"Cease to do evil; learn to do well ... relieve the oppressed ... plead for the widow." 1:16-17
"Come now, let us reason together." 1:18
"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
"Let the oppressed go free ... break every yoke."
This verse appear to condemn slavery. However the bible is far from clear on this issue. 58:6
Feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. 58:7, 10
"He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man." 66:3
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
Pay a fair wage to your employees. 22:13
"Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you." (The best advice in the book of Jeremiah!) 27:16
Don't let your prophets deceive you. 29:7-8
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
There's nothing good in Lamentations.
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice." 6:6
Do good; avoid evil. 5:14-15
"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?"
(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
"Blessed are the meek." 5:5
Blessed are the merciful." 5:7
"Blessed are the peacemakers." 5:9
"Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mark 16:16) 5:44
Don't brag about the good things that you do. 6:1-3
Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer, National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice. 6:5-6
"Consider the lilies of the field...." A nice analogy, good advice (unless you live in cold climates), and a great movie. 6:28
"Judge not, that ye be not judged." 7:1
Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather than criticizing others. 7:3-4
"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 7:12
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 7:15
Forgive those who repeatedly offend you. 18:21-22
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." 10:19
Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 12:14-17
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." 12:31
Jesus believed in progressive taxation. 12:41-44
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. (Mark 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
"Judge not ... condemn not ... forgive." 6:37
Love thy neighbor as thyself. 10:27
The story of the good Samaritan gets my vote for the best bible story. We should all "go and do likewise." 10:30-37
"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."
Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 20:25
From his comments on the widow's mites, it appears that Jesus favored progressive taxation.21:1-3
"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
"The truth shall make you free." 8:32
"Love one another." 13:34
"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
It's better to give than to receive. (Jesus didn't say it, but it's a nice thought anyway.) 20:35
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?"
Practice what you preach. 2:21
Don't think too highly of yourself. 12:3
"He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." 12:8
Let your love be genuine. Do good; avoid evil. 12:9
Be kind to others. 12:10
"Not slothful in business." 12:11
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation." 12:12
"Given to hospitality." 12:13
"Bless, and curse not." 12:14
Show empathy toward others. 12:15
Associate with the lowly. Don't pretend to be wiser than you are. 12:16
Don't return evil for evil. 12:17
Try to "live peaceably with all men." 12:18
"Avenge not yourselves." 12:19
"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." 12:20
"Overcome evil with good." 12:21
Note to teabaggers: Paul says you should pay your taxes and honor the government. 13:6-7
Love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 13:8
"If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 13:9-10
Be honest; avoid drunkenness. 13:13
"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." 14:5
Don't judge other people or cause them to fall. 14:13
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." 14:19
"Live in peace." 13:11
"Remember the poor." (And help them if you can.) 2:10
"By love serve one another." 5:13
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 5:14
"Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, ... meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 5:22
Don't be conceited or envious of others. 5:26
Forgive others. Someday you might make a mistake, too. 6:1
"Let us not be weary in well doing." 6:9
"Do good unto all men." 6:10
"Be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." (Reject the Bible and all religious belief.) 4:14
Don't lie. Speak the truth to your neighbor. 4:25
"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." 4:26
Don't steal, but rather work so that you will have something to give to those who are in need. 4:28
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying." 4:29
Be kind and forgiving to one another. 4:31-32
"Walk in love." 5:2
"So ought men to love their wives." 5:28
Love your wife as yourself. 5:33
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
There's nothing good in 2 Thessalonians.
"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 many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 6:9
"The love of money is the root of all evil." 6:10
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be ... ready to distribute." 6:17-18
Be gentle and patient with all others. 2:24
Disregard "Jewish fables and commandments.quot; Like most of the Bible, maybe? 1:14
"Young men ... be sober minded."
I suppose it's good for young men to be "sober minded." But is it OK to have some fun now and then? 2:6
"In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works ... sincerity." 2:7
Do good works; be gentle toward others; avoid fighting or speaking unkindly about others. 3:1-2
"Avoid ... genealogies." Like Genesis 10, 1 Chronicles 1-9, Matthew 1 and Luke 3? 3:9
"Maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." 3:14
"Do not error." 1:16
"Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." 1:19
"Pure religion ... is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
Cited by Associated Baptist Press in defense of the Affordable Care Act. 1:27
The rich should not be treated better than the poor. 2:2-4
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." 2:8
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
"Speak not evil of one another." 4:11
Don't judge other people. 4:12
"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
"Love one another." 1:22
"For all flesh is as grass."
Life is ephemeral. Enjoy it while you can. 1:24
Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy. Don't speak badly about others. 2:1
Be compassionate and courteous. Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another. Speak kindly of others. Do good and avoid evil. 3:8-11
Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. This is a good verse to remember when they refuse to debate you. 3:15
"Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 4:8
Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 4:9
"Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." 4:15
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
Those who love others are "in the light"; those who hate are "in darkness". 2:9-11
"We should love one another." 3:11
"Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 3:18
"Love one another." 4:7
"God is love." 4:8
"If we love one another, God dwelleth in us." 4:12
"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 16
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." 4:18a
"He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 4:18b
Do good; avoid evil. 11
There's nothing good in Revelation.